Minimum levels of the protection of related rights in the European Union

The level ofprotection of intellectual property rights in the European Union often exceeds the minimum standards established in international treaties. The issues of minimum standards of the protection of related rights established in EU directives are viewed in this article. These acts recognize the following related rights: the rights of performers, the rights of producers of phonograms, the rights of broadcasting organizations, the rights ofproducers of audiovisual works, the right ofpublisher of unpublished works. The right to Critical and scientific publications as an optional related right, is also considered here. The circle of related rights in the European Union will be further expanded if the Directive on copyright in the digital single market is adopted The proposal for this Directive includes regulations on the right of press publications concerning digital use of their press publications (article 11) and right of sport event organizers (article 12a).