CHAPTER ONE. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. NAME. RESIDENCE AND STATUS

1/ The name of the Non-profit Making Association for the performance of its activity in private benefit is ‘BULGARIAN BOOK ASSOCIATION’.

2/ The Association is non-profit making, created on the grounds of voluntary entering into partnership of Bulgarian book publishers.

3/ The Association is a legal entity.

4/ Residence of the Association is: Sofia City, Sredets Region, 11 Slaveykov Sq.

5/ Registered office of the Association is: Sofia City, Sredets Region, 11 Slaveykov Sq.

6/ Name, residence, address and other distinguishing signs shall be placed on all documents and editions of the Association

7/ The Association has a seal with inscription “BULGARIAN BOOK ASSOCIATION”.

Article 2. TERM OF EXISTENCE

Existence of the Association shall not be limited by any term or other conditions.

Article 3. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Association shall have as an objective, through uniting the book publishers, publishers of textbooks, school aids, traders and literary agents in Bulgaria;

1. To protect their independence and their professional rights and interests, as well as to raise the prestige of book publishers, publishers of textbooks, school aids, traders and literary agents in the society.

2. To coordinate the efforts of its members for creation of market relationships subordinated to the professional ethics and the principles of loyalty and equality.

3. To assist for improvement of the legislation in the field of book publishing, copyrights and the neighboring rights thereto.

4. To promote the international agreements and conventions in the field of book publishing and protection of intellectual property and to cooperate for our country’s accession thereto.

5. To carry into effect liaisons and cooperation with congenial organizations in the country and abroad and to participate in international organizations operating in the field of book publishing and intellectual property.

6. To establish the principles of loyal competition and market regulation of the book publishing market in the country and abroad, amongst its members and between the members and any third person , as well as to assist for the voluntary settlements of disputes having arisen amongst its members.

7. The organization may be registered as organization under art. 40, par. 3 of the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act and to provide for all its members the possibility to collectively manage the copyrights ceded to them by the authors.

8. May represent its members before all judicial and administrative bodies for the protection of the rights entrusted to them for management, being able in view of carrying into effect that to, on its behalf and after the consent of the respective bearer of the copyright, file claims under art. 94 and art. 95 and to request levying security measures under art. 96(a) and measures under art. 96(b), 96(c) and 96(d) of the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act.

9. To organize and carry into effect assistance of members of the Association.

10. To represent before third persons its members, as well as the partnerships, with which it had entered into contracts of mutual representation upon protection of the rights entrusted to it for management and collection of the due sums.

11. To carry into effect the informational services for its members in the field of publishing and distribution activity, scientific achievements, marketing, legislation, etc.