President signs intellectual property amendments despite threats related to Russia

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday refused to use her veto right over the amendments to the domestic copyright law proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, despite the presence of potential threats related to Russia, the President’s Administration said. 

 

The Administration said the law could bring domestic legislation closer to European standards and ensure better protection of authors’ rights, but stressed there was a threat that an organization directly subordinated to the Russian head company occupy an “exclusive place” in the space, “as it has happened in other countries”. 

 

“The mechanism may become a tool in the hands of Russia to strengthen its soft power and influence on the creative and intellectual sector, which, in principle, should be the most free and impartial, by controlling financial levers”, said the President’s Administration, urging its authors and supporters for caution after entering the changes into play. 

 

Zourabichvili also signed the second bill on the medical sector, which she claimed also contained risks. 

 

She said the amendments to the Health Protection Law served to reduce possible risks to health and life and improve quality control, although the frequency and tightening of sector controls could hinder its activities. 

 

“Conducting unplanned controls without prior permission of the court and frequent planned controls give administrative supervision a certain leverage to influence the sector if desired”, Zourabichvili said, calling for “attention” to prevent “selective” approach after the activation of the changes.