Copyrights Law in Greece
1. Legal Framework
Copyright law in Greece is governed primarily by:
Law 2121/1993 (as amended) – Copyright and Related Rights Law
The main legislation for authors’ rights and neighboring rights.
European Union Directives – Greece implements EU directives, such as:
Directive 2001/29/EC on copyright in the information society
Directive 2019/790/EU (Digital Single Market Directive)
International Treaties – Greece is a member of:
Berne Convention (protection of literary and artistic works)
WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT)
2. Works Protected
According to Greek law, copyright protects original works of authorship, including:
Literary works: novels, articles, scripts
Musical works: compositions, lyrics
Artistic works: paintings, sculptures, photographs
Cinematographic works
Software and databases
Dramatic and choreographic works
Key requirements:
Originality: must reflect the author's personal intellectual creation.
Fixed in a tangible form (written, recorded, or digital).
3. Rights of Authors
Greek copyright grants two main types of rights:
a) Moral Rights (Personal)
Right to be identified as the author (paternity right)
Right to object to distortions or mutilations of the work (integrity right)
Inalienable and cannot be waived
b) Economic Rights
Exclusive rights to exploit the work:
Reproduction
Distribution
Public performance and display
Communication to the public (broadcast, online)
Adaptation or translation
Duration: 70 years after the death of the author (or 70 years from publication for works of corporate authorship)
4. Related Rights
Greek law also protects neighboring rights, including:
Performers (actors, musicians)
Producers of phonograms and films
Broadcasting organizations
These rights usually last 50 years from first publication or performance, with some exceptions extending to 70 years.
5. Limitations and Exceptions
Greek copyright law includes exceptions similar to EU directives:
Private use: reproduction for personal, non-commercial purposes
Educational use: limited copying for teaching
Quotation and criticism: short excerpts for review or commentary
Libraries and archives: preservation copies
Public interest: reporting current events, news
Parody and satire: allowed if not commercial exploitation
6. Infringement and Enforcement
a) Civil Remedies
Injunctions to stop infringement
Damages for economic loss
Confiscation of infringing copies
b) Criminal Liability
Intentional infringement can lead to fines and imprisonment
Particularly serious for commercial piracy (software, films, music)
c) Online and Digital Enforcement
Greece enforces EU copyright directives for digital works and internet piracy
ISPs may be required to block access to infringing sites
7. Case Law in Greece
Greek courts have several notable rulings:
Case 1: Music Copyright Infringement (Supreme Court, 2005)
A nightclub used copyrighted music without licensing.
Court ruled infringement of economic rights; nightclub ordered to pay damages and licensing fees.
Case 2: Software Piracy (Athens Court of First Instance, 2010)
Company installed unlicensed software on multiple computers.
Court imposed fines and ordered removal of unlicensed copies.
Case 3: Online Copyright Violation (Athens Court, 2017)
Individual distributed copyrighted movies online for free.
Court applied both civil and criminal remedies; imprisonment suspended but damages awarded.
Case 4: Unauthorized Photograph Publication (Thessaloniki Court, 2018)
Newspaper published photographer’s images without permission.
Court recognized moral rights violation and awarded compensation.
Case 5: Collective Management Dispute (Athens Court, 2020)
Music collective sued online streaming service for underpayment of royalties.
Court recognized collective rights and ordered proper royalty payment.
8. Collective Rights Management
In Greece, collective management organizations (CMOs) play a major role, e.g., AEPI (for music).
CMOs license works on behalf of authors and distribute royalties.
Important for enforcement and international copyright collection.
9. Trends and Digital Challenges
Growing importance of online piracy and streaming platforms
Implementation of EU Digital Single Market directives
Focus on balancing author rights with public access for education and research
Enforcement against illegal torrenting and unlicensed streaming continues to expand
✅ Summary
Greek copyright law protects original works and related rights.
Authors have moral and economic rights; economic rights last 70 years post-mortem.
Exceptions exist for private use, education, news, and parody.
Enforcement includes civil, criminal, and digital measures.
Case law demonstrates active enforcement for music, software, photography, and online works.
Collective management organizations facilitate licensing and enforcement.
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