Best Copyright Lawyers in Thivais

About Copyright Law in Thivais, Greece

Copyright in Thivais, Greece is governed by national law that applies uniformly across the country. The core statute is Law 2121-1993 on Copyright, Related Rights and Cultural Matters, as amended to reflect European Union directives, including the Digital Single Market reforms. This framework protects original works of literature, music, art, photography, film, software, architecture, databases and more. Protection arises automatically when a work is created and fixed in a tangible or digital form. Registration is not required.

Greek law recognizes both economic rights and moral rights. Economic rights allow the rightsholder to control uses such as reproduction, distribution, public performance, communication to the public and adaptation. Moral rights protect the author’s personal bond with the work, including the right of paternity and the right to object to derogatory treatment of the work. Moral rights are strong under Greek civil law and generally cannot be assigned away, although consent for certain uses can be granted by agreement.

Because Greece is a member of the EU and many international treaties, Greek copyright law is harmonized with EU standards. For residents and businesses in Thivais, this means that cross-border online uses, licensing, and enforcement often involve both Greek rules and EU principles.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

People and businesses in Thivais often consult a copyright lawyer for the following reasons:

- Licensing and contracts: Drafting or reviewing publishing contracts, music performance licenses for venues, software licenses, production agreements, photo and video releases and commissioning arrangements. A lawyer can ensure you retain needed rights and avoid unintended transfers.

- Online content issues: Takedowns for unauthorized uses on websites and social media, platform disputes, user-generated content policies, and cross-border online distribution questions.

- Business compliance: Restaurants, cafes, gyms, hotels and retail spaces in Thivais typically need public performance licenses for music. A lawyer can help identify the correct collective management organizations and negotiate fees.

- Ownership and authorship disputes: Clarifying who owns rights after employment, freelancing, joint authorship, or commissioned works, and managing moral rights waivers or consents.

- Infringement and enforcement: Cease-and-desist letters, evidence preservation, border measures, civil lawsuits, preliminary injunctions, and in serious cases, criminal complaints.

- Cultural heritage and photography: Greece has special rules for reproducing images of antiquities and museum-held works. A lawyer can guide permissions where cultural heritage law intersects with copyright.

- Software and technology: Protecting code, APIs, databases and software-as-a-service models, and aligning copyright with trade secrets and patents.

- Education and research: Applying exceptions for classrooms, libraries and archives, and managing access to licensed materials.

Local Laws Overview

- Governing law: Law 2121-1993 on Copyright, Related Rights and Cultural Matters, as amended, is the primary statute. Law 4481-2017 modernized collective management. Later amendments implemented EU directives, including the 2019-790 Digital Single Market directive.

- Scope of protection: Copyright protects original works in any form, including literary and artistic works, audiovisual works, music and sound recordings, software and databases. Protection arises automatically upon creation. No registration is required.

- Term: As a general rule, protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. For anonymous or pseudonymous works, protection typically runs 70 years from lawful publication, subject to identification rules. Related rights, such as for performers and phonogram producers, have their own terms, often up to 70 years depending on the right.

- Moral rights: Greek law provides robust moral rights. Authors keep the right to be credited and to preserve the integrity of the work. These are generally non-transferable, though specific permissions may be granted by contract.

- Exceptions and limitations: Greece uses a closed list of exceptions rather than a US-style fair use. Common exceptions include quotation with attribution, private copying subject to levy, certain educational and library uses, parody and pastiche under specific conditions, temporary technical copies, reporting of current events and uses for people with disabilities. The scope and conditions are specific, so legal advice is recommended before relying on an exception.

- Collective management organizations: Many uses require licenses through collective management organizations. For example, music in public venues in Thivais typically requires licenses from author societies and neighboring rights CMOs. Collecting societies operate under oversight of the Hellenic Copyright Organization - Organismos Pnevmatikis Idioktisias.

- Cultural heritage considerations: Reproducing images of antiquities and artifacts in state museums can require permission and fees under Greek cultural heritage law, even if the underlying work is in the public domain. Always verify permissions when using museum images or photographing heritage sites for commercial purposes.

- Enforcement: Civil remedies include injunctions, damages and destruction of infringing goods. Urgent matters can proceed by preliminary injunction before a Single Member Court of First Instance. Criminal proceedings are available for serious infringements. Customs authorities can assist with border measures.

- Local practice in Thivais: Although copyright law is national, practical issues like venue licensing, event permissions and evidence gathering are handled locally. Disputes connected to Thivais may be heard in the competent local civil courts, with many parties also engaging Athens-based intellectual property counsel for complex cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of works are protected by copyright in Greece?

Original works of literature, music, film and video, photography, visual art, architecture, choreography, software, databases and applied art are protected. Protection requires originality and fixation in some form. Ideas, methods and facts are not protected, though their specific expression can be.

Do I need to register my work to get copyright protection?

No. Protection is automatic upon creation. Registration as such is not required in Greece. However, creators often use evidence tools like notarial deposits, timestamped files, qualified electronic timestamps or escrow services to prove authorship and the date of creation in case of a dispute.

How long does copyright last?

Generally, for individual authors, protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. For joint works, it is calculated from the death of the last surviving co-author. Related rights like performers and producers have their own terms, often up to 70 years depending on publication or fixation dates.

Can I use a photo of a public monument or street art in my business materials?

It depends. Greece does not use a broad fair use rule and the scope of any freedom of panorama is limited. Commercial use of images of public art or certain buildings can require permission. Cultural heritage laws may also apply for antiquities and museums. Before commercial use, get legal advice and obtain necessary permissions.

I run a cafe in Thivais. Do I need a license to play music?

Yes. Public performance of music in a commercial venue typically requires licenses from collective management organizations that represent authors and from organizations that represent performers and phonogram producers. Fees vary by factors such as floor area, type of business and use of live or recorded music.

What is the difference between copyright and related rights?

Copyright protects authors of original works. Related rights protect those who contribute to making works available, such as performers, phonogram producers, film producers and broadcasting organizations. Related rights confer specific exclusive rights and have their own terms and limitations.

Can I rely on quotation or educational exceptions for my project?

Possibly, but the conditions are specific. Quotation requires fair practice, proportionality to the purpose and attribution. Educational uses are narrowly defined and often apply within formal settings and for non-commercial teaching. Always verify the exact conditions in Greek law before relying on an exception.

How do I stop someone from infringing my work online?

Collect evidence first, including screenshots, URLs and timestamps. A lawyer can send a cease-and-desist letter, file platform takedown notices and seek court injunctions if needed. In urgent cases, Greek courts can grant preliminary measures. For persistent cross-border issues, EU rules on jurisdiction and enforcement may be relevant.

Who owns the rights to a work made by an employee or a freelancer?

Default ownership often remains with the author, but employment and commissioning rules can allocate economic rights differently, especially for software created by employees in the course of duties. Contracts should clearly state who owns what. Moral rights generally remain with the author even when economic rights are assigned.

Can I link to or embed someone else’s content on my website?

Hyperlinking to freely available lawful content is often permitted under EU case law, but embedding or linking that circumvents access controls can infringe. If the content is unauthorized or behind restrictions, linking can create liability. When in doubt, seek permission or obtain legal advice.

Additional Resources

- Hellenic Copyright Organization - Organismos Pnevmatikis Idioktisias - national authority supervising copyright and collective management organizations.

- Collective management organizations for music authors and publishers - for example, societies operating in Greece for public performance and communication to the public.

- Collective management organizations for performers and phonogram producers - licensing for recorded music in venues and broadcasts.

- OSDEL - book and press collective management organization for reprographic licensing and digital uses in the publishing sector.

- Ministry of Culture and Sports - for matters related to cultural heritage permissions, museum reproductions and antiquities imagery.

- Citizen Service Centers - KEP - in Thivais and surrounding areas can provide guidance on administrative steps and contacts for licensing bodies.

- Local Chambers of Commerce in Boeotia - practical information for businesses that need music and broadcast licenses.

Next Steps

- Identify your objective: Are you licensing content, stopping an infringement, or setting up compliant music use in a venue in Thivais? Clarify your goal before contacting a lawyer.

- Gather evidence and documents: Contracts, emails, drafts, source files, timestamps, invoices, screenshots and details of use in question. For online issues, capture URLs and dates.

- Map your uses: List where and how the work is used - on premises, on websites, on social media, in advertising or in broadcasts. This helps determine which rights and licenses are needed.

- Contact a qualified lawyer: Look for an attorney experienced in Greek copyright and related rights. Many IP lawyers based in Athens handle matters for clients in Thivais. Local counsel can also assist with filings in nearby courts.

- Consider interim steps: A cease-and-desist letter, platform takedown, or negotiation with a collective management organization may solve the issue quickly without litigation.

- Budget and timeline: Ask about expected costs, timeframes for preliminary measures, and potential settlement options. In urgent cases, inquire about preliminary injunctions.

- Keep records: Maintain a compliance file with copies of licenses, correspondence with collecting societies, and proof of payments to demonstrate good faith and avoid fines.

This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. For advice tailored to your situation in Thivais, Greece, consult a qualified lawyer.