This year, World Intellectual Property Day invites us to “Feel the Beat”, and turn our attention to how intellectual property fuels the global music industry. As IP practitioners, we welcome this opportunity not only to celebrate creativity, but also to spotlight the pressing issues rightsholders face in today’s ever-shifting digital landscape.
Behind the music: the reality for rightsholders
While streaming has revolutionized music consumption, it has also introduced complex legal and ethical questions. Who gets paid? How much? How fast? Musicians, composers, producers, and publishers are often caught in a system where rights are fragmented, royalties are unclear, and enforcement is a continuous challenge.
In Croatia and beyond, many creators struggle with unclear revenue shares on streaming platforms, lack of transparency in royalty collection and distribution, AI-generated music blurring the line of authorship and originality, rampant online piracy and unauthorized use of music across social media, and many more.
These aren’t just legal issues, they are existential ones. Without fair recognition and compensation, creativity stalls, and innovation suffers.
IP as the rhythm section of creative survival
IP rights are meant to protect and empower. But to stay relevant, the system must evolve in step with the beat of technology. This includes smarter contracts, better cross-border enforcement, and new models for licensing in the digital space. Music is increasingly global, so our laws and tools must be, too.
Here, alternative dispute resolution tools like mediation are becoming indispensable. They offer artists and rightsholders a chance to resolve conflicts quickly, confidentially, and with solutions tailored to creative realities, preserving relationships and reputations along the way.
Croatia in tune with the future
Croatian artists continue to find global audiences, from classical and traditional music to modern genres and collaborations. But they need the right legal support to grow sustainably. As IP professionals, we play a key role in helping creators understand, assert, and monetize their rights across platforms, borders, and formats.
Let’s not only feel the beat, but protect the people who create it. Let’s work toward a more transparent, fair, and modern IP system where musicians and all rightsholders can thrive.
This text is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice. Should you require any additional information, feel free to contact us.
