Cuban Government Denies Banning the Weekly Package

The Cuban regime has denied rumors suggesting a ban on the Weekly Package following the release of Decree 107 by the Council of Ministers, which prohibits the public exhibition of movies, series, documentaries, and other content through digital means.

Ernesto Vila González, director of the National Center for Copyright and Performing Artists, clarified to Cubadebate that the new legal provision does not prevent the distribution of the Weekly Package. "The regulations pertain to the public exhibition of films, and the update means it is not allowed through digital media using computer supports," he said.

Vila González further explained that copying a hard drive or memory for personal or family cultural consumption does not constitute an exhibition but a reproduction.

Regulations and Self-Employment

Among the activities for self-employment, Vila González mentioned those initially linked to the sale of discs, which have technologically migrated to other supports such as USB drives. "Those with authorization licenses can continue their activities as long as they meet the requirements set by the regulation," he noted.

One of the requirements is to be contracted with the Agency of Dramatic, Musical, and Audiovisual Creators (ACDAM). "Self-employed workers make a monthly payment for the remuneration of creators included in the exchanged materials. This agency has a territorial network across the country to establish relationships with these economic actors," he added.

The requirement to be linked to ACDAM does not apply to the non-profit exchange of audiovisual materials between individuals using memories and other digital devices, he clarified.

"The new regulations do not prohibit the circulation of audiovisual material or self-employment activities, provided those involved have authorization and comply with the Law of Copyright and Performing Artists," he concluded.

Despite the official's statements, this last aspect is not fully adhered to, as the Weekly Package often includes illegally distributed movies and series from platforms and channels.

The recent publication of a list with 125 prohibited economic activities for non-state economic forms sparked significant controversy over whether the Weekly Package was banned.

Periódico 26 in Las Tunas sought clarification from specialists at the Municipal Directorate of Labor, who explained that the regulation explicitly exempts pre-approved licenses for disc sellers from the prohibition.

"So far, self-employed individuals providing copying services for various audiovisual materials operate under licenses for disc sellers," they said. However, they clarified that "no new licenses for disc sellers will be issued."

Periódico 26 removed the article from its social media, but Raudel Rodríguez, a journalist with the provincial station Radio Victoria, reposted the full text on his Facebook page. "The Weekly Package remains. What will not be authorized are new licenses for disc sellers (those who record audiovisual materials)," emphasized Rodríguez.

Comedian Ulises Toirac was among many who criticized the potential ban on the Weekly Package. "Make good television, period. The 'packagers' will starve. And what do they sell? Not what they want, but what is requested of them. If it's of poor cultural quality, ask yourself why," he said.

Last year, Díaz-Canel expressed concern over the content of the Weekly Package and advocated for including more national productions. "It's not just about phones; there could be more concerns. Everything that reaches us through the package, a movie—are we going to stop watching movies, stop using phones?" he asked during a meeting with Cuban parliamentarians.