Under the title "Legal and Economic Aspects of the International Development and Marketing of Television Formats" FRAPA has looked into the legal situation in Europe with the following result. The first step to protecting formats is to come up with an exact definition of the term. Only if it is clear what the term "format" means in terms of a legal definition will there be a chance of better protecting all those who have novel ideas and depend on being paid for their work. An approach for the legal protection of television formats is based on the so-called "study of legal facts”. Whether there are possible solutions and whether a law can provide the required protection is something which is going to be discussed from different angles within the context of this special event.
Host: Christoph Fey, Managing Director, Format Recognition and Protection Association, FRAPA, Cologne ________________________________________________________________________________________
Panellists:
Prof. Dr. Miriam Meckel, Permanent Undersecretary for Europe, International Affairs and Media, Government of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf
Ute Biernat, Geschäftsführerin / Managing Director, GRUNDY Light Entertainment GmbH, Cologne
Michael Kamps, Lawyer, Norton Rose Vieregge, Cologne