Dedicated to World Intellectual Property Day, celebrated annually on April 26, an informative event titled “Intellectual Property & Music: Feel the Rhythm!“ is taking place this morning at the Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens, at Gasholder 1 – “Miltiadis Evert” Amphitheater.
The event is organized by the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO) in collaboration with the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI) and the Collective Management Organizations for musical works in Greece: AUTODIAXEIRISI, ENOSI DIKAIOUCHON EDEM, APOLLON, ERATO, and GRAMMO.
Opening remarks were delivered by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Iason Fotilas, and the President of HCO, Mr. Panagiotis Tsiris. The OBI, as co-organizer, was represented by its Deputy General Director, Ms. Aikaterini Margellou.
Mr. Fotilas, representing the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, welcomed the event and addressed the broader concept of intellectual property as one of the most fundamental and sensitive values in modern society. He emphasized that intellectual property is a principle that must remain firm in an ever-changing world, where concepts of ownership and individuality are constantly being redefined. “Music, like all forms of art, is born from effort, inspiration, and personal experience. Therefore, protecting an artist’s work is not a luxury—it is a prerequisite for the survival of our very culture,” he stated.
Mr. Tsiris welcomed the guest speakers and attendees, highlighting this year’s World Intellectual Property Day theme: music. “With this theme in mind, we decided to showcase every facet of the music world, and we thank all the Collective Management Organizations present today, as well as the valuable performers. We are also grateful for the support from the Ministry of Culture—especially Minister Ms. L. Mendoni—as well as from Mr. Panagiotis Kanellopoulos, General Director of OBI, with whom we recently signed a mutual cooperation agreement,” he said.
Ms. Margellou took the floor to speak about the relationship between the two related organizations, HCO and OBI, which have strengthened their collaboration through a mutual cooperation program. “This year’s World IP Day theme—music—offers so much to human nature, creativity, and society. Patents, Industrial Designs, Trademarks, literary and artistic works all contribute significantly to global economic and cultural development. At OBI, we even have Patents for musical instruments, such as the ‘ardenio,’ made from plastic tubes, and various guitar Patents. This shows that the human urge to create is intrinsically tied to both Industrial and Intellectual Property. One thing is certain for us: Innovation is vital. To move forward, we must collectively create new pathways to progress and encourage young people to participate in the world of Intellectual Property, which inherently leads to growth, new achievements, and ultimately, a better world.”
In Session 1, titled “Inspiration and Music Creation,” speakers included composer Mr. Dimitris Papadimitriou and lyricist Mr. Paraskevas Karasoulos, who is also Secretary of the ENOSI DIKAIOUCHON EDEM Board. This was followed by a session titled “From Creation to Protection – Copyright and Related Rights in Musical Works,” presented by Ms. Maria G. Sinanidou, lawyer and scientific associate of HCO, and Ms. Eva Moustaka, lawyer in HCO’s Legal Department.
On the “Value of Trademarks in Music,” Ms. Mikela Markaki, lawyer at OBI, spoke, while Ms. Olga Sismanidou, representative of Creative Europe, discussed “Creative Europe: Music Networks and Platforms.”
Ms. Markaki’s presentation focused on Trademarks, particularly in relation to creativity, artistic freedom, and the sustainability of artists in today’s music industry. “In the music world, a Trademark could be an artist’s or band’s name, a logo—such as that of the Rolling Stones—or a phrase associated with an artist. It differs from copyright in this way: copyright protects the creation itself (e.g., a song), while a Trademark protects who created it. The former concerns the work; the latter, its commercial identity,” she explained.
The event is ongoing and will conclude later in the evening with a panel and discussions on themes such as Artificial Intelligence in Music, the strategic use of music by commercial enterprises, and more.
The event is moderated by Ms. Maria-Daphne Papadopoulou, Deputy Director of HCO.
Admission to the event is free.
