Greek Hoteliers Sign Deal with Intellectual Property Rights Society

Autodia President Nikos Antypas, Autodia interim General Director Margarita Panagiotopoulou, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels President Alexandros Vassilikos, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels legal advisor Diamantis Bilianis, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels Director Agni Christidou and Autodia Commercial Director Giannis Giokas.

Greek hoteliers and the country’s main intellectual property rights organization inked a deal recently, clearly defining copyright and related rights fees for the use of music for the retrospective and current period.

The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) and Greece’s non-profit Collection Society of Music Authors & Rightsholders Autodia announced the deal after months of negotiations setting the requested levy for the use of music by accommodation facilities in view of the challenging conditions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Referring to the agreement, HCH President Alexandros Vassilikos said: “In conditions of great difficulties putting pressure on Greek hotels, on the one hand we have restructured the landscape with transparency and ease, and on the other, we are supporting Greek creators and our country’s cultural product.”

Vassilikos encouraged other collection societies and copyright bodies to “enter a dialogue for the mutual benefit of beneficiaries and users”.

Hoteliers and collective management organizations in Greece have been in ongoing negotiations to achieve fairer and more consistent charges for the legitimate public use of music.

“Autodia is on the side of all professionals affected by the pandemic and for this reason the society has entered into an agreement that is equally beneficial for both parties, so that both Greek hoteliers and Greek creators can face the unprecedented conditions they are experiencing in their business and artistic activities, respectively,” said Autodia President Nikos Antypas.