The government on Thursday sent to parliament a bill on copyright and related rights, which adjusts that area to the digital age, in line with two EU directives.

The purpose of the bill is to adapt the existing legal framework to technological development that has changed the way works protected by copyright and related rights are being created, produced, distributed and used.

The existing law dates back to 2003 and over the years it has been amended many times, while the new law is aimed at ensuring more efficient protection for creators of online cultural and media content, said Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Korzinek.

The bill also defines exceptions and restrictions regarding copyright and the related rights, as well as new measures facilitating licencing for the use of works protected by copyright and related rights to enable broader access to protected content, she said.

The minister added that the bill defines rules facilitating cross-border distribution of television and radio programmes and introduces a mechanism to facilitate licencing in cases when programmes from other EU countries are re-broadcast.

“We consider it as especially important that the bill will ensure a better status for stakeholders in the national cultural, creative and media industries in relation to online platforms, which is particularly important in the context of their revenues which have decreased due to the coronavirus epidemic,” the minister said.

The bill will also provide a clear framework and facilitate the use of works protected under copyright and related rights in digital and online classes and remote learning.