CISAC Holds Training on Private Copying Remuneration in Africa

On 30 November-2 December 2015, CISAC held a technical training on the management of private copying for French-speaking African member societies. Organized in partnership with the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF), the training held in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) marks a the first step in a wider four-year cooperation framework between CISAC and OIF, aimed at improving the operational capabilities of collective management organisations (CMOs) to collect and distribute royalties in the African region. Local authors' society Bureau Ivoirien du Droit d'Auteur (BURIDA) provided logistical support for the event.

Twelve CISAC member societies from 11 French-speaking African countries attended the training. None of these societies are currently managing the private copying remuneration, however the political and legal framework of these targeted countries is favourable to the introduction of a remuneration scheme in the near future.

The three-day training session focused on the technical issues related to the collection and distribution of the fair remuneration for private copying. The last day was devoted to analysing case studies. Representatives of CISAC member Société Belge des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs (SABAM), as well as of Copiefrance and AUVIBEL (the French and Belgian societies in charge of collecting the remuneration for private copying and distributing it to local CMOs) were invited to explain how the system of remuneration for private copying is implemented in their respective countries. Delegates of Algerian Office National des droits d'auteur et droits voisins (ONDA) and Bureau Burkinabe des Droits d'auteurs (BBDA), which currently manage the remuneration for private copying, also shared their practical experience in collecting and distributing the levies in the African region. Finally a high-level officer of the Customs of Burkina Faso clarified the role played by the Customs Office in collecting remuneration.

Societies actively participated in the training and were encouraged to implement the course's findings in their respective business environments.

In recognition of the importance of the event for African Societies, Minister of Culture and Francophonie of Ivory Coast Mr. Maurice Kaouakou Bandaman, received a delegation of CISAC and OIF representatives. The Minister pointed out that a Decree regulating the remuneration for private copying levies is currently under debate in Ivory Coast, with effective implementation scheduled next year.

The training session received considerable media attention in Ivory Coast.