Tbilisi: Georgia has taken steps to clarify the issue of copyright infringement concerning Azerbaijan’s “Basgaly” dance and the folk song “Bu gala, dashly gala.” On October 21 of the previous year, the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (COPAT) reached out to the Georgian National Intellectual Property Center “SAKPATENTI” with a formal letter, as reported by APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the letter from COPAT requested an investigation into why the Azerbaijani “Basqali” dance was presented as “Somxuri shalakho,” an Armenian shalakho, on Georgian television channels including 1TV.CE, “IMEDI,” and “Rustavi.” Furthermore, it addressed the omission of the source and rightful ownership when the Azerbaijani folk song “Bu qala, dasli qala” was utilized. The letter demanded appropriate actions, informed responses to Azerbaijan’s Intellectual Property Agency, and continuous monitoring to prevent similar occurrences.

To address these concerns, “SAKPATENTI” has received materials confirming the alleged violations and has committed to clarifying the issue of music rights infringement on Georgian channels. They are in the process of gathering detailed legal information and have reached out to the relevant television stations to prevent further violations and restore rights. A comprehensive investigation and a response letter are awaited.

Furthermore, “SAKPATENTI” has emphasized the potential use of legal and judicial mechanisms to address this issue more extensively. The leadership has assured continuous monitoring and necessary actions to resolve any legal disputes that arise from this situation.