In 2025, the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO) strengthened its role as an institutional pillar for the protection of copyright in Greece.
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The draft bill of the Ministry of Culture was approved by Parliament on 29 January 2026, introducing for the first time into the Greek legal system a comprehensive institutional framework for the prevention and combating of forgery and fraud involving works of art and collectible items. The new legislation establishes a stricter and more complete regulatory framework aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage, protecting creators, and ensuring the proper functioning of the art market. The bill also includes provisions concerning historic cinemas.
The law provides for increased criminal and administrative sanctions for the production, circulation, trade, and possession of forged works of art, substantially strengthening the deterrent framework against practices of forgery and fraud. Penalties are scaled according to the severity of the offense and the financial damage caused, while aggravating circumstances—such as professional or repeated involvement—are also taken into account.
A key innovation of the law is the establishment of a special registry of forged works of art. The registry will serve as a central point for recording and information, contributing to the prevention of the re-circulation of forged works and facilitating inspections by the competent authorities. At the same time, it enhances cooperation among public authorities, expert professionals, and stakeholders in the art market.
The introduction of the registry is expected to strengthen the traceability of works of art and improve transparency in transactions, thereby protecting collectors, museums, galleries, auction houses, and investors. Moreover, it contributes to restoring confidence in the art market, which has repeatedly been undermined by incidents of falsification and deception.
See the Official Government Gazette here
The Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament approved on 28 January, by 17 votes in favour, 3 against and 2 abstentions, a series of proposals aimed at ensuring full transparency and fair remuneration for creators and rightholders regarding the use of protected works by generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
The European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN), which consists of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the national intellectual property offices of the EU Member States, and the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property, has announced the launch of a new online platform aimed at supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in intellectual property matters.
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The HCO Newsletter – January 2026
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On Monday, 19 January 2026, a Memorandum of Educational Cooperation was signed in a cordial atmosphere between the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) and the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO), during a meeting held at EPLO’s offices in Plaka. The Memorandum inaugurates an important collaboration aimed, among other things, at the exchange of know-how and the development of joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest.
The European Commission has launched a consultation with stakeholders aimed at supporting the implementation of the obligation for providers of general-purpose AI models to identify and comply with rights reservations expressed by rightholders.
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Works Entering the Public Domain in 2026
The year 2026 brings into the public domain significant works of European and global cultural heritage, as copyright protection expires for creators who passed away in 1955. These works become freely accessible and may be used without prior authorisation, opening up new opportunities for creativity, education, and cultural dissemination.
On Tuesday, 23 December 2025, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO), during a meeting held at the Rectorate offices.
2025 was another year of active and tangible presence of the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO) alongside the educational community, within the framework of the ten-year Copyrightschool project. Through school visits, teacher training activities, and collaborations across the country, the HCO continued to bring copyright awareness into the classroom, directly linking it to everyday educational practice.
The year began in January in Argos, with a seminar for teachers of the 2nd Primary School, and continued in Athens through a collaboration with the 2nd Model High School of Athens, where a cycle of three visits was carried out for 3rd grade students.
During the first months of 2025, the HCO also visited schools in Attica and Thessaloniki, through in-person and online activities, engaging with primary and lower secondary students on the legal use of digital content and their role as creators.
The educational visit to the 6th Primary School of Kamatero highlighted the experiential approach of Copyrightschool, as pupils had already worked in class with digital tools and educational material developed by the HCO.
At the same time, particular emphasis was placed on teacher training. From February to April, the HCO participated in a series of training events organized by the Directorate of Primary Education of A΄Athens, covering all primary school grades.
In February, an online seminar in collaboration with the Regional Network “Film Education” reached approximately 100 teachers, linking copyright with audiovisual creation. Cooperation with the 3rd Primary School of Kordelio continued through online educational visits and seminars for both students and teachers, strengthening the HCO’s long-standing relationship with the school community.
In the autumn of 2025, the HCO travelled to Epirus. In October, a series of activities took place in Epirus, focusing on Arta and Ioannina: teacher training workshops, school visits, and open discussions on the proper use of digital content and the use of the Copyrightschool platform. More than 150 teachers and students participated in these activities in total.
During the same period, online training sessions for primary and secondary education teachers were held in collaboration with the Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Eastern Attica, with the participation of a large number of teachers.
The year concluded with a teacher training session in Patras in December and an educational visit to the Music High School of Piraeus, where more than 50 students and teachers discussed copyright issues in the contemporary digital environment, including references to new technological challenges.
Throughout 2025, a total of 11 seminars, training sessions, and school visits—both in-person and online—were carried out, bringing the HCO into direct contact with more than 520 teachers and over 200 students in schools across the country.
2025 confirmed that Copyrightschool is a stable point of reference for the educational community. Through continuous presence in schools, teacher training, and educational resources, the HCO strengthened the dialogue on copyright in a practical and applicable way.
In 2026, Copyrightschool continues in the same direction: supporting teachers, providing meaningful information, and maintaining an active presence where everyday school life takes shape.
For seminars, school visits, and/or educational material requests, please contact the HCO: info@opi.gr