21 May 2002

Treaty on Performers' Rights on Internet Enters Into Force, May 20, 2002

(WIPO pact focuses on sound recordings in cyberspace)

An international treaty negotiated in 1996 to protect the rights of singers, musicians, actors and other performers on the Internet entered into force May 20, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced.

The WIPO Phonograms and Performances Treaty (WPPT) is one of a pair of treaties negotiated by 160 countries to protect against Internet piracy. The second pact, the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) protecting authors' rights on the Internet, entered into force March 6.

The WPPT updates international standards of protection for performers set out in the 1961 Rome Convention to cover use of their performances on the Internet, WIPO said in a May 20 news release. WIPO also noted that the Rome Convention and the WPPT "grant protection mainly in relation to sound recordings of performances, and only address the audiovisual aspects of performances to a very limited extent."

WIPO Director General Kamil Idris described the treaties' entry into force as "a significant first step in creating the conditions necessary for the broad-based and legitimate distribution of creative works and recordings on the Internet."

Idris added that the full benefit of the treaties relies on their widespread adoption worldwide. As of May 20, the number of countries having ratified the WCT and WPPT stood at 35 and 34, respectively.

Following is the text of the WIPO statement:
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World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Geneva
May 20, 2002

WPPT ENTERS INTO FORCE

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Phonograms and Performances Treaty (WPPT), one of two key treaties that adapt copyright law to the digital age, entered into force on May 20, 2002. The first of these so-called "Internet treaties", the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT), entered into force on March 6, 2002. The treaties set out the legal framework to safeguard the interests of creators in cyberspace and open new horizons for composers, artists, writers and others to use the Internet with confidence to create, distribute and control the use of their works within the digital environment.

"This is a milestone in the history of copyright law," said the Director General of WIPO, Dr. Kamil Idris. He underlined the importance of the new standards provided for in the WCT and the WPPT in creating an environment to foster the future development of the Internet, electronic commerce and culture and information industries.

The Director General urged the wide adoption of the treaties by countries in all regions of the world. "The entry into force of the WIPO 'Internet treaties' is a significant first step in creating the conditions necessary for the broad-based and legitimate distribution of creative works and recordings on the Internet," Dr. Idris said, adding "The full benefit of these treaties will, however, hinge on their widespread adoption by countries in all regions of the world." The number of countries having ratified the WCT and WPPT currently stands at 35 and 34, respectively.

The WPPT modernizes and updates international standards of protection for performers -- such as, singers, musicians, dancers and actors -- set out in the 1961 Rome Convention, to cover use of their performances on the Internet. The Rome Convention and the WPPT, however, grant protection mainly in relation to sound recordings of performances, and only address the audiovisual aspects of performances to a very limited extent.

For more information about the WPPT and the WCT, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at +4122-3388161 or +4122-3389547 or publicinf@wipo.int.

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