WPPT was adopted with an objective to develop and maintain the protection of the
rights of performers and producers of phonograms in a manner as effective and uniform as possible. This treaty would not disturb the existing obligations that Contracting Parties have to each other under the
International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations done in Rome, 26 October 1961 (Rome Convention). Articles 18 and 19 of the WPPT provide similar obligations for performers and producers of phonograms to contracting states as provided under Articles 11 and 12 of the
WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT). The Treaty deals with the rights of two kinds of beneficiaries, particularly in the digital environment: performers (
actors,
singers,
musicians, etc.); and producers of phonograms (persons or legal entities that take the initiative and have the responsibility for the fixation of
sounds). • As far as performers are concerned, the Treaty grants performers economic rights in their performances fixed in phonograms (not in audiovisual fixations, such as motion pictures): the right of reproduction; the right of distribution; the right of rental; and the right of making available. • As to unfixed (live) performances, the Treaty grants performers: the right of broadcasting (except in the case of rebroadcasting); the right of communication to the public (except where the performance is a broadcast performance); and the right of fixation. • The Treaty also grants performers
moral rights (the right to claim to be identified as the performer and the right to object to any distortion, mutilation or other modification that would be prejudicial to the performer's reputation). • As far as producers of phonograms are concerned, the Treaty grants them
economic rights in their phonograms: the right of reproduction; the right of distribution; the right of rental; and the right of making available. As to
limitations and exceptions, Article 16 of the WPPT incorporates the so-called "
three-step test" to determine limitations and exceptions, as provided for in Article 9(2) of the
Berne Convention, extending its application to all rights. The accompanying Agreed Statement provides that such limitations and exceptions, as established in national law in compliance with the Berne Convention, may be extended to the digital environment. ==See also==