Related rights: conceptual approaches, definition and key features

The development of technologies contributes to the emergence of new intangible objects that have potential value and are aimed at spreading the results of creativity and information. In this regard, the society is interested in encouraging the activities of entities that create such objects. One of the options for the protection of such objects is to grant the related rights. Considering the technological changes in society associated with the use of information and telecommunication networks and artificial intelligence, the issues of granting related rights to new entities gain relevance. In order to identify the possibility of expanding the institution of related rights and determine the directions of such expansion, the article analyzes the main approaches to the formation of the institute of related rights, their characteristics, and attempts to deliver a working definition of the concept of related rights. On the basis of a comparative analysis, the author considers Russian and foreign legislative acts in the field of intellectual property, international treaties on copyright and related rights, as well as legal literature. The most supported idea of the formation of the institute of related rights is the functional purpose of the activities of subjects of related rights, acting as intermediaries between authors and representatives of the public. However, the institute itself is evolving and recognition of related rights for new subjects depends not only on the functional purpose of the activity, but also on their organizational and/or economic contribution aimed at processing and disseminating works and information. It can be assumed that the institute of related rights will continue to expand with the development of technologies and the public demand for new services provided by new technologies.