IT and Copyright: Intellectual property protection on Internet high on the agenda of the meeting of G8 Ministers of Culture in Avignon

Intellectual property protection on Internet is going to become one of the top issues at the G8 ministerial meeting focused on the problems of cultural exchange, which is kicking off in Avignon (France) on November 17 2011. Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeev will represent Russia. Along with France and other members of G8 the two-day forum will bring together representatives of Brazil, South Africa, India and many international organizations.

High on the agenda of the meeting is elaboration of a new concept of intellectual property protection and modern ways to combat piracy on Internet. Organizers of the meeting from France highlight that the purpose of the forum “is to improve the level of interaction between the states on the part of copyright protection”.

“Development of digital technologies is a global phenomenon, which today concerns each and every person, - said Laurence Franceschini, representative of G8 France as she commented on the agenda. – Therefore it is highly important to develop the Internet space policy ensuring that it does not only meet interests of particular states, but corresponds to international regulations, UNESCO conventions”. She said that “along with using these opportunities for broadening cultural exchange it is necessary to protect intellectual property”.

The problem of intellectual property protection on Internet previously arouse during summits of leading countries in May and this month as well. The host of the meeting in Avignon – France – stresses that the problem associated with civilized Internet and protection of authors’ rights, who have put talent and creative power in their works, must not be ignored. “This problem is very important not only from economical standpoint, - believes the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy. – If we do not reward the creators the creativity will become impossible”.