PANAMA

On October 4, the National Assembly passed in the third and final debate the Beijing Treaty about interpretations and audiovisual performances. The treaty develops an international framework for the protection and deepening of the guarantee of intellectual property rights of artists, performers on audiovisual performances. The text, which was passed without changes, was sent to the Executive Branch for its enactment and entry into force.

The international instrument proposes that ratifying countries issue measures to protect a series of artists’ and performers’ rights. These include the right of reproduction, the right of distribution and the right of rental. It also provides that each signatory country may incorporate in its national legislation that the rights shall belong or be assigned to the audiovisual producer, subject to the prior consent of the artist.

Also, it confers economic rights in relation to live performances, and proposes to grant artists the right to receive royalties for the use of their productions. On the other hand, it indicates that those governments that ratify the treaty must provide adequate legal protection and effective legal remedies against the circumvention of effective technological measures in relation to the exercise of their rights.