Aleksandra Xhamo

Copyright Enforcement: an Inquiry in Applying Albanian Copyright Law Aleksandra Xhamo

Even though the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) established the international legal enforcement standards, the increase of commercial piracy appeared to be still considerable, affecting not only the economic sphere but carrying also social and cultural consequences. Therefore, the necessity to review strategies and options to combat it by pursuing legal action has resulted in the update of the European Copyright Law. Driven by this, a range of European directives stipulate the need for harmonization of legislation within the European Community. Like all Central and Eastern European transition countries, Albania is still experiencing the challenges of the European Integration. The European Union (EU) - Albania Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), signed in June 2006, require the incorporation of the acquis communautaire into national legislation and more importantly its implementation and enforcement. This book will present an overview of how copyright law operates in the Albanian environment and how effective the copyright enforcement is in the context of the Albanian European Union Integration.