Digitalization and Intellectual Property: The End or the New Beginning

Conference

Digitalization and Intellectual Property: The End or the New Beginning


17. June 2019.

In the modern world, the protection of intellectual property is one of the most important resources of any society. A developed system for the protection of intellectual property directly affects the increase in GDP and, faster than any industry, stimulates the development of innovative solutions to global problems. At the same time, the rapid development of new technologies has posed completely new challenges and threats to traditional ways of copyright and related rights protection.

The organization BALKAN PERSCPECTIVES TODAY recognizes the importance of this topic, and so far its experts have organized several conferences on intellectual property, and they also participate in a working group for drafting laws in this field. In order to inform the public and decision-makers to readily welcome digitalisation, BPT organized a major regional conference, bringing together the most important government representatives and the largest regional experts in the field.

About the conference

Conference "Digitalization and Intellectual Property: The End or The New Beginning" was held in Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, on June 17th, 2019.  It was organized in order to provide expert and political support to the process of Euro integrations of the Western Balkan countries and simultaneously emphasize the importance of the IP protection to the public and relevant institutions. Therefore, the harmonization of national legislation with international and European laws has become crucial, especially in countries on their path to the European Union.

The aim of the conference was to provide a platform where decision-makers, experts and the general public could discuss current and future public policy in this area and try to answer questions that are raised. Within the three panels, the participants exchanged their views on threats and challenges posed by the new era of the Internet revolution in the field of intellectual property protection, and it was concluded that only better legal solutions can provide adequate protection.

Speakers

Ana Brnabic
Ana Brnabic
Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia
Radovan Viskovic
Radovan Viskovic
Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Srpska
Mladen Sarcevic
Mladen Sarcevic
Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development in the Government of the Republic of Serbia
Zlatan Klokic
Zlatan Klokic
Minister of Economic Relations and Regional Cooperation in the Republic of Srpska
Srdjan Rajcevic
Srdjan Rajcevic
Minister for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society in the Government of the Republic Srpska
Goran Svilanovic
Goran Svilanovic
Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council
Vladimir Lucic
Vladimir Lucic
Internet and Multimedia Coordinator of Telekom Group
Nemanja Zilovic
Nemanja Zilovic
Strategy and Transformation Director of Telenor
Marko Jovic
Marko Jovic
General Affairs Director at VIP
Vladimir Maric
Vladimir Maric
Director of the Intellectual Property Office of Serbia
Josip Merdzo
Josip Merdzo
Director of the Intellectual Property Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nikola Vilotic
Nikola Vilotic
Director of the Organization of Phonogram Producers of Serbia (OFPS)
Frane Tomasic
Frane Tomasic
Representative of Croatia Records Music Publishing
Ahmed Svarkic
Ahmed Svarkic
Association for Producer Rights Protection- Phonogram BiH
Romeo Koci
Romeo Koci
CEO of Gramm-A
Radmila Bojanic
Radmila Bojanic
Executive Director of Marketing and Sales of m: tel Banja Luka
Zoran Baranac
Zoran Baranac
journalist
Slobodan Nesovic
Slobodan Nesovic
journalist

Agenda

10:00-10:15

Introductory speech



10:15-11:15

PANEL I

Media Monopoly in the Western Balkans: What is the role of the State

Participants:

Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia
Radomir Viskovic, Prime Minister of Republic of Srpska
Mladen Sarcevic, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development in the Government of the Republic of Serbia
Zlatan Klokic, Minister of Economic Relations and Regional Cooperation in the Republic of Srpska
Srdjan Rajcevic, Minister for Scientific and Technological Development, Higher Education and Information Society in the Government of the Republic Srpska
Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council

Moderator: Zoran Baranac, journalist

11:15-11:45

Coffee break

11:45-12:45

PANEL II

Digitalization: Intellectual Property and Telecommunication Companies

Participants:

Vladimir Lucic, Internet and Multimedia Coordinator of Telekom Group
Nemanja Zilovic, Strategy and Transformation Director of Telenor
Marko Jovic, General Affairs Director at VIP
Marko Jovic, General Affairs Director at VIP
Vladimir Maric, Director of the Intellectual Property Office of Serbia
Josip Merdzo, Director of the Intellectual Property Institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Moderator: Slobodan Nesovic, journalist

12:45-14:00

Lunch break

14:00-15:00

PANEL III

Copyright and contemporary piracy

Participants:

Nikola Vilotic, Director of the Organization of Phonogram Producers of Serbia (OFPS)
Frane Tomasic, Representative of Croatia Records Music Publishing
Ahmed Svarkic, Association for Producer Rights Protection- Phonogram BiH
Romeo Koci, CEO of Gramm-A
Radmila Bojanic, Executive Director of Marketing and Sales of m: tel Banja Luka

Photo and video gallery

Banski dvor

Banski dvor

Banski dvor is a cultural center in Banja Luka. It was built in 1931-32. It served as the seat of the Ban (t/n governor’s title in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia) of the Vrbas Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During the Second World War, the interior of the building was devastated and much of the expensive furniture, paintings, and other items were permanently lost. After the end of the war, the court was used as a military and political seat. From 1955, under the decision of the city authorities, the building was entrusted to the Cultural Center for management, and in 1998 it officially became a public cultural institution, called the Banski dvor Cultural Center. With the establishment of Republic of Srpska on January 9, 1992, Banski dvor was the seat of the President up to 2008.

Banja Luka

Banja Luka

Banja Luka is the largest local self-government unit in Republic of Srpska and second in Bosnia and Herzegovina by population. The city with its wider area has a population of 185,059. Its name first appears in 1494. Banja Luka represents the political, administrative, financial, university and cultural center of Republic of Srpska.Different cultures, customs and influences have intertwined in and around this city for centuries. All this has left a mark on the architecture of certain parts of the city, and on a large number of cultural and historical monuments as witnesses of different epochs and human creativity. Due to the numerous green spaces (parks and alleys), Banja Luka is known as the city of greenery.

Sponsors

M:tel AD Banja Luka logo

M:tel AD Banja Luka

M: tel Banja Luka One of the three national telecom operators in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mtel JSC Banja Luka offers unique communication solutions united under the corporate brand m:tel. Operating in an increasingly dynamic market, the company offers state-of-the-art telecommunications services in the fields of mobile telephony, landline telephony, digital television, internet and data transmission projects. In addition to providing high-quality services and the application of modern information technologies, m:tel invests heavily in sports, culture, education and humanitarian projects, and by acting socially responsible, it contributes to the development of true values in its environment. Since the privatization of the majority share in the company to date, m: tel has achieved remarkable business results, which is confirmed by the record number of over 1.6 million friends and users of all services.