Last week, the International Authors Forum (IAF) took part in the first Regional Conference on Intellectual Property and Creative Industries titled “Empowering Creativity for Sustainable Growth with IP”, held in Chisinau, Moldova.
The two-day conference was organised in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova (AGEPI), and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova, with the support of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, creators, entrepreneurs, and IP professionals, the event also welcomed representatives from key regional and international organisations and heads of copyright offices from the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Romania, and Ukraine, offering insights into national practices and sharing successful approaches to promoting and protecting creativity.
Key sectors such as book industry, publishing, music, and film were at the heart of the conference discussions, with a strong emphasis on the need for a supportive legal and institutional environment that enables creativity to thrive, protects intellectual property, and guarantees fair remuneration for creators. An important topic discussed throughout the event was the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on the creative industries. Participants assessed the complex challenges AI brings to existing rights management systems and discussed its broader implications for the future of creative work and the protection of authors’ rights.
During the conference, IAF presented its work supporting authors globally in managing their rights, particularly in the digital environment. IAF stressed the need for a transparent, fair, and regulated licensing system that allows AI developers to access creative content legally, while ensuring that authors maintain control over how their work is used and are fairly compensated.
On this occasion, IAF also introduced its 10 Principles for Fair Contracts to stakeholders in the region. These principles include the core values and expectations that IAF members believe should underpin any fair and transparent agreement between authors and their publishers.
The conference concluded with a collaborative brainstorming session, during which participants developed a strategic framework and action plan to guide next steps and build on the momentum generated by this landmark event.
