AZAS to Co-Host Major Regional Seminar on Audiovisual Authors’ Rights in Skopje

An important step toward stronger copyright protection for Macedonian authors

Skopje, July 2025 – This autumn, North Macedonia will host a key regional gathering that places authors’ rights at the heart of cultural policy. The Second Regional Seminar on Audiovisual Authors’ Rights in Central and Eastern Europe will take place in Skopje in November, co-organized by AZAS – the Association of Audiovisual Authors of North Macedonia, in close partnership with the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA), AIPA (Slovenia) and ZAPA (Poland).

This seminar comes at a pivotal moment for the Macedonian creative community, as efforts to align the national copyright framework with European standards gain momentum.

A Platform for Dialogue and Reform

The upcoming seminar will bring together audiovisual authors, copyright experts, CMOs, public institutions, and international organizations for two days of focused discussion on fair remuneration, the transposition of the EU Copyright Directive, and the role of collective management in ensuring that authors receive the recognition and compensation they deserve.

Topics will include:

• Sustainable audiovisual environment and the impact of 2019 copyright directive;
• Good practices from neighboring countries in managing audiovisual rights;
• The importance of legal certainty and transparency for audiovisual creators;
• Opportunities for improving collaboration between CMOs and national institutions.

A Milestone for AZAS and Macedonian Authors

For AZAS, this event is more than just a seminar – it is an important step in its long-term mission to build a fair, transparent, and modern copyright system in North Macedonia.

“Hosting this seminar in Skopje is an opportunity to open serious and necessary conversations about the future of audiovisual authors’ rights in our country,” said Mr. Kiril Gjozev, Secretary General of AZAS. “We see this not only as an honour, but as a responsibility – to our members and to the wider cultural and creative community. AZAS stands ready to work closely with governmental institutions as a constructive partner in the development of the copyright sector in North Macedonia. Our goal is a system where authors are respected, rights are protected, and creativity is valued.”

A Collaborative Regional Effort

This second edition of the regional seminar builds on the success of the first event held in Belgrade in 2023, and reflects a growing regional consensus on the need for author-focused copyright reforms. With the support of key European partners, the Skopje seminar aims to generate practical proposals and deeper cooperation across Central and Eastern Europe.

AZAS expresses its deep appreciation for the continued support of the SAA, AIPA, and ZAPA, whose expertise and solidarity play a crucial role in strengthening collective management and cultural policy throughout the region.

Looking Ahead

As North Macedonia continues its European integration journey, events like this serve as a reminder that copyright is not just a legal issue – it is a matter of cultural development, economic sustainability, and respect for creative work. The seminar will offer space for learning, cooperation, and most importantly, for building a shared vision of authors’ rights fit for the future.

AZAS invites all authors, institutions, stakeholders and supporters of the cultural sector to follow the upcoming programme and contribute to the dialogue – because protecting authors means protecting culture.