Actors’ and Filmmakers’ Unions to Meet TV Producers to Resolve the Public Performance Rights Dispute
The Actors’ and Filmmakers’ Unions are preparing to hold a closed meeting with television drama producers to discuss public performance rights and intellectual property amid growing controversy in the entertainment industry.
The Egyptian entertainment industry is witnessing a new move to address the ongoing dispute over public performance rights for creators, as the Actors’ and Filmmakers’ Unions prepare to meet with a number of television drama producers to discuss intellectual property and the rights of artists and creative professionals.
The meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday and comes amid growing calls for greater clarity regarding the mechanisms for applying public performance rights, particularly as disagreements continue between creators and producers over old and new contracts and whether rights holders are entitled to receive payments for works that were produced in previous years. 📢
🎬 Closed Meeting Between Unions and Producers
The Actors’ Professions Syndicate, headed by actor Ashraf Zaki, decided that the meeting would take place without media or press attendance, reflecting the participating parties’ desire to discuss the details of the issue directly and away from public debate.
Representatives of the Actors’ and Filmmakers’ Unions are expected to meet with a group of television drama producers to discuss public performance rights and the legal and professional aspects connected to the issue.
The meeting comes at a time when artists, writers, directors, and other creative professionals are increasingly focused on their financial and intellectual rights, particularly as artistic works are now distributed through a growing number of television channels and digital platforms.
⚖️ Ayman Bahgat Kamar Enters the Debate
At the same time, screenwriter and lyricist Ayman Bahgat Kamar joined the ongoing discussion by addressing producer Hisham Abdel Khalek, head of the Cinema Industry Chamber, regarding the controversy surrounding public performance rights for creators.
In a message posted on his Facebook account, Ayman Bahgat Kamar reaffirmed his position regarding what he considers to be the legal rights of creators, referring to provisions of intellectual property law concerning the rights of authors and other creative professionals.
He pointed out that contracts play a fundamental role in determining rights, arguing that the absence of an explicit waiver of a particular right in a contract does not necessarily mean that the right has been surrendered.
📜 What Did Ayman Bahgat Kamar Say About Old Contracts?
Ayman Bahgat Kamar argued that older contracts signed by actors, writers, directors, and other creative professionals, in his view, do not explicitly waive public performance rights.
Based on that interpretation, he believes that the creators of those works may be entitled to receive payments connected to these rights, including for works produced in previous years, with the collection of payments beginning according to the applicable mechanisms.
This particular point has generated significant discussion because the application of public performance rights to older works is considered one of the most sensitive aspects of the issue, especially given the different perspectives held by rights owners and producers.
⭐ Intellectual Property Law at the Center of the Debate
The current discussions are taking place within the legal framework governing intellectual property protection, including Law No. 82 of 2002 on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, which regulates various rights associated with creative works.
The importance of these laws has grown alongside the development of the content industry. Artistic works are no longer limited to traditional television broadcasts, but are now available through multiple platforms, creating continuing questions about how rights and payments should be calculated.
The growing availability of older productions through television channels and digital platforms has also made questions surrounding their rights increasingly prominent within the entertainment industry.
🔥 Disagreement Between Creators and Producers
The current dispute is not limited to legal interpretations. It also reflects different perspectives between creators and producers regarding how public performance rights should be applied.
While a number of rights holders argue that legally protected rights should reach their rightful owners, producers have raised questions regarding previous contracts, implementation mechanisms, and methods for calculating payments.
This makes the upcoming meeting particularly important, as it provides an opportunity for different sides to present their views and potentially work toward a framework that can help regulate the relationship between producers and creative professionals.
📢 Could the Meeting Resolve the Dispute?
Attention is now focused on the upcoming meeting between the unions and producers to see whether the discussions can lead to clearer understandings regarding public performance rights.
Old contracts, methods of calculating payments, and the application of rights to previously produced works are expected to be among the key issues discussed.
As interest in the matter continues to grow, dialogue between the unions and producers represents an important step toward finding solutions that balance the rights of creators with the obligations of production companies.
✨ Creators’ Rights Return to the Spotlight
The current controversy reflects an important shift in the way the entertainment industry addresses the rights of creators, particularly as the content market has undergone major changes in recent years.
The success of any future agreement will depend on establishing a clear and transparent mechanism that protects creators’ rights while also taking existing contracts and producers’ obligations into account.
As the closed meeting approaches, the entertainment industry is waiting to see what emerges from the discussions and whether the issue will move toward new steps aimed at regulating public performance rights and ending the ongoing controversy.
Do you expect the upcoming meeting between the unions and producers to help resolve the public performance rights dispute? Share your thoughts on the future of creators’ rights in the drama industry. 💬🎬
Ahmed Ghazy is currently considering several acting projects, including a new 15-episode series for Ramadan 2027 and a film with director Raouf El-Sayed.
Mahmoud El-Tany topped Monday's box office with more than EGP 2.7 million, while six films recorded combined revenues exceeding EGP 5.1 million.
Elissa is set to perform in New Alamein on August 21 as part of Yalla Sahel events, while also revealing how she maintains her fitness through diet and exercise.
Discover the personal side of Jamil Ratib, from his only marriage and close relationship with his manager to memorable human moments and his final wish.
