Latvia has implemented the Reporting by the press on current events (Art. 5.3(c) 2nd part InfoSoc) exception in Section 20, paras 1 and 3 and of the Copyright Act. The national exception is slightly more restrictive than the EU exception.

Implementation summary:

This exception allows for the fixation, communication to the public and publishing of current events by photographic works. It also allows for a broadcasting organisations to broadcast works which have been seen or heard in the course of current events, to the extent justified by the informational purpose. In addition, communicated and published works can be reproduced in the form of quotations and fragments for use in news broadcasts and reports of current events to the extent justified by the purpose.

Implementation details:

Beneficiaries:

• any user (regarding photographic works)
• broadcasting organisations

Purposes:

• informatory purpose

Usage:

• reproduction (in the form of quotations and fragments)
• fixation (by photographic works)
• communication to the public (by photographic works)
• publishing (by photographic works)
• broadcasting (for broadcasting organisations)

Subject Matter:

• works
• performances (short segments)
• phonograms (short segments)
• film fixations (short segments)
• broadcasts (short segments)

Compensation:

• no compensation required

Attribution:

• the title of the work and the name of the author must be indicated

Other Conditions:

• use must be limited to the extent justified by the purpose
• use is conditioned by the compliance with the moral rights of the author (§14 of the CA) and the three-step test (§18 of the CA)

Introduced/last updated: 22 April 2004

Remarks: The exception extends to neighbouring rights as per Section 54, para 3(1) of the CA, but only regarding short segments included in news broadcasts and in reports of current events, in amounts appropriate for the informative purpose.