Memorandum of Understanding of Mexico Delegation Advances Cooperation in Central America

On 19 April, the latest meeting of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Mexico delegation took place in Bogota, Colombia. In attendance were representatives of CISAC, sponsoring societies ASCAP, BMI, PRS for Music, AGADU, SADAIC, SACM and SGAE as well as cooperating societies ACAM, Aei, SGACEDOM, SPAC and SACIM.

The MoU of Mexico was established in 2013 as a programme of cooperation for Central American societies, sponsored by ASCAP, BMI, PRS for Music, AGADU, SADAIC, SACM and SGAE. The objective of the MoU is for Central American societies and CISAC to share information and provide support to each other to aid their negotiations for licensing agreements with third parties such as broadcasters, television stations and cable operators.

The meeting in Bogota was opened by CISAC Regional Director for Latin America & the Caribbean, Santiago Schuster who highlighted progress made over the last year thanks to the MoU of Mexico, such as the positive agreement reached with broadcasters in Panama and the proximity of an agreement with a major cable operator in that country.

Schuster assessed, "These meetings do not talk about the good and happy news, but the difficulties we are facing in a territory full of obstacles for collective management. We are convinced that we must act in Central America, because the strength of the network of companies in the region, is the weakest link in the chain."

The meeting then proceeded with a report on the results of the Negotiation Committee in Panama and Costa Rica given by Luis Cecilio Orozco of SACM, a report of the situation in Honduras delivered by Santiago Schuster and an analysis of the status of the beneficiary societies given by members of the Central America societies.

Luis Cecilio Orozco concluded the meeting, outlining the following priorities for the MoU delegation in 2016-2017:

• Make a visit in support of AEI Guatemala
• Promote a cooperation agreement with the Government of Honduras, in order to enforce the obligations of open TV and paid TV as well as correct weakness of local society
• Close the negotiation process in Panama and file legal against large users, which are not licensed
• Request a report to the Regional Legal Committee to define future actions in Costa Rica