WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIOIP/N/1/LVA/C/2
24 June 1999
(99-2605)
Council for Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property RightsOriginal:  English/
anglais/
inglés
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS AND REGULATIONS
NOTIFIED UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT
LATVIA
The present document reproduces the text1 of the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers
Nº 312 on "Film Distribution and Public Exhibition", as notified by Latvia under Article 63.2 of the
Agreement (see document IP/N/1/LVA/1).
Conseil des aspects des droits de propriété
intellectuelle qui touchent au commerce
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET RÉGLEMENTATIONS CONSACRÉES
À LA PROPRIÉTÉ INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIÉES
AU TITRE DE L'ARTICLE 63:2 DE L'ACCORD
LETTONIE
Le présent document contient le texte1 du Règlement du Cabinet des Ministres nº 312 sur "La
distribution et la projection publique de films", notifié par la Lettonie au titre de l'article 63:2 de
l'Accord (voir le document IP/N/1/LVA/1).
Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad
Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA
PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD
DEL PÁRRAFO 2 DEL ARTÍCULO 63 DEL ACUERDO
LETONIA
En el presente documento se reproduce el texto1 del Reglamento del Consejo de Ministros
Nº 312 relativo a la distribución y proyección pública de películas, notificado por Letonia en virtud de
lo dispuesto en el párrafo 2 del artículo 63 del Acuerdo (véase el documento IP/N/1/LVA/1).
                                                     
1 In English only/En anglais seulement/En inglés solamente.IP/N/1/LVA/C/2
Page 2
CABINET OF MINISTERS OF THE REPUBLIC LATVIA
October 31, 1995 Regulations No. 312
REGULATIONS OF FILM DISTRIBUTION AND PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Issued in accordance with the  Article 32
 of the  Law on Entrepreneurial Activity
1. These regulations determine the order of the film distribution and public exhibition in the Republic
of Latvia.
2. The terms used in these regulations:2.1. film - a complete audiovisual work, produced in any materialized form, that give the impression
of movement by projection;
2.2 distribution of a film - selling or renting of a film for individual use or public exhibition;2.3 public exhibition of a film - the demonstration of a film (by means or technical equipment) in
public places as well as in television programs;
3. Only those enterprises (companies) or state institutions are authorized to distribute and exhibit films
that have received a license to distribute and exhibit film6 issued by The National Film Center
(“License” - further in the text).
4. The state enterprise “Latvijas Telev īzija” does not need to receive the License for public
demonstration of films.
5. The License for a years term is issued by th e Licensing Commission of  National Film Center.
License is certified by the Chairman of the Commission and confirmed with the seal of LicensingCommission.
6. The composition of the National Film Center’s Licensing Commission and its statute is
corroborated by the Minister of Culture.
7. The License fee is from 10 to 150 lats per year (further in the text "annual fee”). The annual fee is
determined according to the kind and si ze of the enterprise (see Appendix)
The annual fee for enterprise and companies engaged in several kinds of activities mentioned in the
Appendix is determined by summing the annual fee for each kind of activity.
Exempted from paying the annual fee are:
7.1 Latvian film producers that distribute their products themselves;7 2 State institutions publicly demonstrating films for special audiences (army units, schools etc.)8. All Films publicly distributed or exhibited in Latvia  must bc registered in the Film Register of the
National Film Center (Film Register - further in th e text). The films intended for the use of television
broadcasting organizations and demonstrated in television programs need not to be registered.
9. The statute of Film Register is approved by the Minister of Culture.IP/N/1/LVA/C/2
Page 3
10. The Film Register accordingly to the presented documentation issues a Registration Certificate of
the film, determines the kind of distribution and public exhibition of the film, asserts the title of the
film in the official language and, if necessary, determines limitations of distribution and publicexhibition of the film.
11. The information about the films registered is to be published In the newspaper – “Latvijas
Vēstnesis” (Latvian Harold).
12. The distribution has to ensure that the number of the Registration Certificate and its expiration
term are indicated in the distribution documentation and/or the visual design.
13. A due for the. registration of the film is collected conforming to the statute of the Film Register.
The films produced in Latvia are registered gratuitously.
14. Film theatres and television broadcasting organizations  are allowed to screen only those films that
have the Registration Certificate.
15. The films provided for screenings in festival s, symposiums, shows and educational undertakings
of that kind in the Republic of Latvia are exempts of registration. The organizers of the relevant
undertaking are obliged to inform the Film Register about those Films in writing.
16. The film theaters and television broadcaster organizations by projecting a film must ensure that
translation of the. film in the official language.
17. The license is nullified in following cases;17.1 if the provision of the Articles 8, 12, 13, 14 and 20 are infringed;17.2 if the annual fee is not paid till the January 1 of the relevant year.18. The films that are illegally distributed or publicly exhibited are seized and the transgressor is made
answerable by administrative or criminal order.
19. The Expert Commission of the National Film Center evaluate the seized films. Films of high
artistic value that can increase thc State film collection  are deposited  with the State. The rest of the
films are liable to destruction accordingly to the provisions of the Law on Copyright and Neighboring
Rights (The Harold of the Supreme Council and the Government of the Republic of Latvia, 1993,
Nr.23).
20. Licenses issued before the day these Regulations have come into effect must be reregistered in the
National Film Center within three month after corning into force of these Regulations. After
expiration of thc re-registration term licenses that are not reregistered must be considered as nullified.
The annual fee by re-registering of license is determ ined accordingly to the provisions of the Article 7
of these Regulations.
21. Th. revenues obtained by licensing the business and by issuing the Film Registration Certificates
are to include in the special budget of the National Film Center and are to be used to ensure the
operation of the Film Register as well as the development and promotion of Latvian cinematography.IP/N/1/LVA/C/2
Page 4
22. The execution of those Regulation is superintended by the National Film Center and the Regional
and State Inspectors of Culture of the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the State and Municipal
police.
23. These Regulations come into affect from December 1, 1995
Prime Minister M.Gailis
Minister of Culture J.DripeIP/N/1/LVA/C/2
Page 5
Appendix
To the Regulations No.312
of the Cabinet of Ministers
from the October 31, 1995
ANNUAL FEE
1. Distribution of Films
No Foreign films Latvian films
1. Distribution of films 150 10
2. Enterprises (companies) engaged in reproduction
and wholesale trade of videocassettes150 10
3. Enterprises (companies) owning three or more
videocassettes rental and/or trade outlets100 -
4. Enterprises (companies) owning one or two
videocassettes rental and/or trade outlets50 -
2. Public exhibition of films by TV broadcasting organizations
No  One film per
weekTwo tour four
films per weekFive and
more films
per week
1. Regional TV broadcasting organizations 50 75 100
2. Cable and local TV broadcasting
organizations15 30 50
Note: Film program the running time of which does not exceed one hour is considered as one film.
3. Public exhibition of films in film theater
No Operating four or
less days per weekOperating five
and more days per
week
1. Film theaters not exceeding 400 seats 20 40
2. Film theaters with 400 and more seats 30 60
Minister of Culture J.Dripe
__________