RIGHT OF REPRODUCTION AND RIGHT OF MAKING AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN THE EU-UKRAINE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

Abstract

The article deals with the analysis of two specific exclusive economic rights: the right of reproduction and the right of making available of works to the public in such a way that members of the public may access these works from a place and at a time individually chosen by them and compares them under the domestic Ukrainian legislation and under the EU-Ukraine Association agreement. The concepts of «reproduction» and of «communication to the public» are considered. It is concluded that the right of reproduction is the most basic right since it forms the basis of most forms of exploitation of a work. Reproduction is, in reality, the copying of a work in any manner or form. At the same time, it remains uncertain in Ukraine at the legislative level that the right to reproduction of work includes direct or indirect reproduction and reproduction in whole or in part. These issues are up to the court to decide. It is concluded that the approach when the right of making available of works to the public is included in the broader «right of communication to the public» is applied in the EU Member States (Articles 3 and 4 of Directive 2001/29 /EC) and is reflected in Art. 174 Association Agreement. In addition, the concept of communication to the public in the EU must be construed broadly, as referring to any transmission of the protected works, irrespective of the technical means or process used, this concept includes two cumulative criteria, namely, an ‘act of communication’ of a work and the communication of that work to a ‘public’. This approach should be implemented in the Ukrainian legislation.