The Bulgarian Ministry of Culture Takes on Music Venues without Paid Copyrights

Establishments that play music must pay for copyright, director of the Directorate for Copyright and Related Rights at the Ministry of Culture, Mehti Melikov, told BGNews, adding that there are ongoing checks on all the sites that broadcast music .

"If there is music in establishments and retail outlets, this type of use has to be regulated, it can be regulated both in collective rights management organizations and in an independent company," explained Melikov, who said that the ministry control activities also provide information to the owners of the establishments about what their duties are to the creators whose works they use, and the Director explained that during the inspections they are confronted with a total misunderstanding of copyright law by establishment owners

Melikov emphasizes that buying a subscription, such as Spotify and Youtube for listening to music, does not mean that the rights are regulated and broadcasting is legal. "This is because they have paid a subscription that involves personal use, but when you use this subscription and related works and put them into your business to add extra value you give to the customer, it's another type of use, "Melikov said.

He also added that playing of music from a purchased CD is again a violation.