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Cyprus Seeks To Restore Tourism Confidence Amid Regional Tensions

Economic Resilience And Stability

Amid rising regional tensions, the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEV) reaffirmed Cyprus’s position as a stable destination for international investment, business activity and premium tourism. During a recent executive committee meeting, the federation emphasized that maintaining stability, security and economic continuity remains a key priority for both the public and private sectors.

Combatting Misconceptions With Prudence

OEV highlighted the institutional framework that has supported the Cypriot economy through several recent challenges. According to the federation, concerns about tourism bookings are currently influenced more by external perceptions than by actual conditions within the country.

Some sectors connected to tourism and exports, including the pharmaceutical industry, are experiencing temporary pressures. Federation representatives stated that these issues will be addressed through measured policy responses and targeted economic strategies.

Restoring Confidence And Normalcy

The federation also called for efforts to correct the perception that Cyprus is facing a broader crisis. According to OEV, restoring confidence among international partners and travelers requires clear communication about the country’s stability and operational normalcy.

OEV president George Pantelides is expected to meet with European Union officials in Brussels on March 18, 2026, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. The discussions aim to resume EU programs and meetings scheduled to take place in Cyprus that were postponed earlier following initial security concerns related to regional developments.

Industry And Government Joint Response

Recent geopolitical developments have already affected tourism activity, with a decline in reservations reported for March and April. OEV director general Michalis Antoniou described the situation as one of cautious concern, noting that the decline appears linked to international perceptions of risk. Industry representatives have proposed a targeted international marketing campaign aimed at reinforcing Cyprus’s reputation as a safe destination for business travel, tourism and leisure.

The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE) also warned that tourism and hospitality are among the sectors most sensitive to geopolitical uncertainty. Government officials have begun coordinating responses with industry stakeholders. During a meeting at the presidential palace, President Nikos Christodoulides highlighted the importance of tourism for the Cypriot economy. The sector generated €3.69 billion in revenue last year and contributed 14% to national GDP.

Looking Ahead

Government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis noted that several developments, including the gradual restoration of airline routes, are helping restore normal travel patterns. Industry representatives continue to monitor booking trends and labor market developments as the effects of regional tensions evolve. Through coordinated action between government institutions and private sector stakeholders, Cyprus aims to maintain economic stability and reinforce its reputation as a resilient business and tourism destination.

Copyright Law Struggles To Keep Up With AI Training

Courts Are Still Applying Old Copyright Rules To AI

AI companies train models on enormous amounts of published material, including books, articles and academic research. Whether using that content without authors’ permission violates copyright law remains unresolved.

Much of the debate centres on fair use, which allows copyrighted material to be used without permission in certain circumstances. Courts consider factors such as the purpose of the use, how much material was involved and its impact on the original market.

Anthropic Case Sets An Important Precedent

A major case involving Anthropic and a group of authors provided one of the clearest rulings so far. Judge William Alsup found that using copyrighted books to train AI models was lawful, comparing the process to people reading and studying literature before creating something new.

Anthropic was nevertheless ordered to pay $1.5 billion in a settlement. The penalty concerned books the company had obtained from illegal online libraries rather than the AI training itself.

For AI companies, that distinction could prove significant because it separates studying copyrighted material from directly copying it.

Competition Could Be The Key Issue

A case involving Thomson Reuters and Ross Intelligence offers a different perspective. A court ruled that Ross could not claim fair use after using Reuters’ copyrighted material to develop a competing AI-powered legal research platform.

The decision suggests courts may be less willing to consider AI training fair use when copyrighted content is used to build a product that directly competes with the original.

For authors, an unresolved question is whether AI-generated content should be considered competition for the works used to train these models.

The Law Has Yet To Catch Up

US copyright law predates generative AI by decades, leaving courts to apply old principles to new technology. Questions also remain over copyright protection for AI-generated works. In Thaler v. Perlmutter, a court ruled that material created entirely by AI cannot receive copyright protection.

Major AI companies remain involved in copyright litigation, and different courts could reach different conclusions. For now, there is no universal rule: the legality of AI training will depend on the circumstances of each case and how courts ultimately interpret copyright and fair use.

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