Conference to Examine Future Development of Collective Management of Copyright and Related Rights in Europe

Geneva, November 19, 2008
MA/2008/45

The future evolution of collective management of copyright and related rights systems in Europe in an ever-expanding digital environment will be the focus of discussions at a conference organized by WIPO in association with the European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC) and in cooperation with the Association of European Performers’ Organisations (AEPO-ARTIS), and the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) on November 24-25, 2008 in Brussels.

The Conference on Collective Management of Copyright and Related Rights in Europe will provide a cross-industry forum for discussion of developments and challenges arising from technological developments and trends in the digital market, rights management information systems and competition issues. Some 400 participants from collective management organizations, lawyers, academia, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, developers of digital technology and services and creative industries are expected to attend.  Many authors and performers will relay their strong belief in their rights and collective management, through video messages that will be projected at the conference.  

The Conference will consider the future of collective management in the digital environment, and will review a range of improvements in the application and management of rights introduced by collective management organizations worldwide. It will provide an opportunity to deepen the dialogue between stakeholders in the creation, licensing, and dissemination of creative content and allow participants to draw on experiences in Europe at international level. Issues such as the impact of new services and business models (for example, file-sharing, pod casting, streaming and Internet video services) licensing techniques, fee structures and distribution, and measures to combat unauthorized downloading and other illegal use, will also be addressed.

Collective management societies administer the rights of authors, performers and other creators.   One of their main responsibilities is the collection and distribution of royalties and remunerations. The interlinked technological environment in which creators operate today presents collective management societies with a number of challenges, not least in terms of how to track usage of their members’ works. The various solutions that have emerged in response to these challenges have forged new opportunities and mechanisms for managing creators’ rights and for ensuring public access to data relating to the ownership of works. 

The Conference will be held at the Hotel Le Palace, Crowne Plaza in Brussels.