Which International Agreement Introduced the Concept of Neighbouring Rights

The concept of neighbouring rights is relatively new to the world of intellectual property and copyright law, but it was first introduced through an international agreement a few decades ago. This article will shed some light on which agreement is responsible for this groundbreaking concept.

The birth of neighbouring rights can be traced back to the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations, also known as the “Rome Convention.” This international agreement was adopted by the member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) back in October 1961.

The Rome Convention was designed to provide legal protection to performers, phonogram producers, and broadcasting organizations in their respective fields. The term “neighbouring rights” was coined to describe the different rights granted to these groups that are distinct from the traditional copyright granted to authors of literary and artistic works.

Under the Rome Convention, performers were given the right to control the use of their performances, such as their musical, dramatic, and other artistic works. Phonogram producers were granted the right to protect their sound recordings, while broadcasting organizations were given exclusive rights to control the use of their broadcasts.

The concept of neighbouring rights gained recognition and importance with the growing importance of the music industry and the entertainment industry as a whole. These rights ensured that performers and producers receive fair compensation for their work and protected them from unauthorized use of their performances.

Many countries around the world have ratified the Rome Convention, including major music markets like the United States, Japan, and many European countries. This agreement is still considered a fundamental legal tool for protecting intellectual property rights and is an integral part of international copyright law.

In conclusion, the concept of neighbouring rights was first introduced through the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations. This agreement recognized the distinct rights of performers, phonogram producers, and broadcasting organizations and played a significant role in shaping international intellectual property law.