TIRANA, July 1 – Albania’s new copyright bill will strengthen the protection of creators and rights holders in the digital environment while aligning national legislation with European Union rules, Deputy Economy and Innovation Minister Martin Kajo said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a conference on digital and audiovisual piracy organised by the National Council for European Integration, Kajo said combating online piracy remains a key priority under Chapter 7 of Albania’s EU accession negotiations on intellectual property rights.
He said the draft law builds on the European Union’s Digital Single Market Directive and introduces advanced mechanisms to protect copyright online. The legislation also shifts greater responsibility to digital platforms by requiring them to obtain the necessary authorisations and remove unauthorised content.
In addition, Kajo said the bill establishes an administrative mechanism to handle online copyright violations. The process ranges from complaints by rights holders to content removal orders and, if necessary, technical blocking, while preserving the right to judicial appeal.
The chief negotiator for Chapter 7 added that the draft law grants Albanian press publishers the right to seek compensation from digital platforms using their content. It also strengthens contractual rights for authors and performers through greater transparency and fair remuneration.
He also announced the creation of a dedicated anti-online piracy unit within the Copyright Directorate to support enforcement of the new legislation.
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