The bill proposes a public office for copyright matters

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would create the Spanish Office for Copyright and Related Rights (OEDAC), an autonomous agency attached to the Ministry of Culture with its own legal personality, treasury and assets. The reason given is that the current intellectual property unit has taken on more duties without more resources, amid the growth of the Internet, streaming platforms, artificial intelligence and new forms of piracy.
2. The Government would approve the agency's Statute by royal decree, on the joint proposal of the Ministries of Culture, Finance and Digital Transformation, and before August 31, 2024.
3. The office would have its own assets and resources: property, budget allocations, fees and public prices, donations and sponsorship. Its budget and accounting would follow the General Budget Law rules for autonomous agencies.
4. Its governing bodies would be the Presidency (held by the Minister of Culture) and a Governing Council. The office could authorize collecting societies, inspect and sanction them, separating the investigation of proceedings (executive bodies) from their decision (the Directorate).
5. Until the office becomes fully operational, the Ministry of Culture bodies would keep their current duties. From then on, the OEDAC would take over the Ministry's rights and obligations in intellectual property matters.
6. The bill would amend the Intellectual Property Law: the Intellectual Property Commission would be attached to the new office, and sanction rules would be adjusted, including a fine of €150,001 to €600,000 for repeatedly failing to remove infringing content.

Who it affects

• Creators and copyright holders: Functions on intellectual property now handled by the Ministry of Culture would be grouped into a single autonomous agency.
• Collecting societies: They would fall under the new office, which could authorize, inspect and sanction them.
• Websites and services that infringe copyright: The Second Section of the Intellectual Property Commission, which handles the shutdown of piracy websites, would be attached to the office, and sanctions for resuming unlawful activity would be tougher.
• The general public: The bill is part of a commitment made to the European Union under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

Words worth knowing

Organismo autónomo (autonomous agency)

A public entity with its own legal personality and assets, created by the Administration to run a service, but dependent on a ministry.

Derechos conexos (related rights)

Rights similar to copyright held by people involved in creating or spreading works, such as performers or producers.

Entidades de gestión (collecting societies)

Organizations that manage copyright on behalf of creators and charge for the use of their works.

Estatuto (Statute)

The rule that sets out how the agency is organized and runs: its bodies, staff and rules.

Subrogarse (to take over)

To step into another party's rights and obligations, taking its place.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries