HAVANA, Cuba, May 16 (ACN) Cuban minister of culture Alpidio Alonso Grau said that the Law on the Copyright and Performer’s Rights, approved today, improves copyright protection, favors broad access to literary and artistic creation, represents an explicit recognition of the work of creators and supports the State’s cultural policy.
With his words at the plenary session of the Havana Convention Center, the head of this ministry opened before the National Assembly of People’s Power the debate on this new legislation, which even though it was widely discussed days ago, its analysis Monday by the deputies enriches it even more.
In the presence of Army General Raul Castro, leader of the Revolution, and Miguel Diaz-Canel, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban communist party and president of the country, Alonso highlighted the interest and opinions that the original text aroused among writers, artists and other sectors after it was published in the Cubarte digital website.
He highlighted the support of the ministry of justice and other bodies and agencies to update the present regulation, since the current one dates back to 1977.
According to the minister of culture, the new law is a necessary and useful tool in the complex international context, incorporates the indispensable obligations of the international treaties to which Cuba is a signatory, and defends the conceptions on culture and knowledge defended by the social project.
It also provides an effective response to the demand of intellectuals for payment for the use of works in the digital environment and remuneration to artists and performers, which are included in this text.
During this 5th extraordinary session, another regulation related to culture, the General Law for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage, will be submitted to Parliament for approval.