DUSHANBE, December 21, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik parliamentarians have endorsed amendments to the country’s advertising law.

Tajikistan’s lower chamber (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament approved a bill requiring amendments to the advertising law on December 21.

Presenting the bill, Mahmad Rahimov, the head of the Center for Legislation under the President of Tajikistan, noted that the amendments had been made in pursuance of requirements of the copyright law of Tajikistan.       

Copyright law in Tajikistan is covered by the Law on Copyright and Related Rights of Tajikistan, adopted on November 13, 1998 and subsequently amended on August 1, 2003.

The bill, in particular, prohibits showing commercials in movies, documentaries, concert films and clips without consent of their authors.

Under one of amendments proposed to the advertising law, a public service announcement (PSA) is not considered to be commercial ad.    

A public service announcement (PSA) is intended to change the public interest, by raising awareness of an issue, affecting public attitudes, and potentially stimulating action.