Intellectual property copyright

By mentioning especially the cable TV which broadcast pirated digital material, the US Ambassador underlined the lack of an authority that punishes piracy.

“The responsible agencies for protecting intellectual property have no legal authority to collect fines and punish the local pirate cable TVs who broadcast pirated digital programs. I watch a lot of TV and my Albanian friends too, but their content is stolen. The National Council of Radio and Television has given 58 fines and 47 warnings in 2011, but unfortunately there’s no one who has the right mechanisms to collect these fines”, Arvizu declared.

The EU Ambassador, Ettore Sequi, declared that the intellectual property protection is a condition for the EU.

“The Stabilization Association Agreement underlines that Albania needs to take the necessary measures to guarantee the intellectual property rights same as in the EU within December 1st 2010. Unfortunately, nothing has been done”, Sequi declared.

The US Ambassador compared the intellectual property with the theft of electric power.

“It’s more or less like electricity. I don’t want to mention the debate with CEZ, but as you know, the biggest problem with electricity is that half of the population doesn’t pay for it, including the government institutions. And if only 50% of the population pays it, this means that the system is not stable and you cannot make any business”, Arvizu declared.

When the Minister of Economy, Edmond Haxhinasto, had left the room, the head of the US Chamber of Commerce declared that as always, the state representatives leave and they have no one to talk to about their problems.

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