About
CISAC – the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers – is the world’s leading network of authors’ societies.
With over 227 member societies in more than 116 countries, CISAC represents more than 5 million creators from all geographic areas and all artistic repertoires; music, audiovisual, drama, literature and visual arts. CISAC is presided over by Swedish songwriter, musician, singer, guitarist, producer and a member of the Swedish musical group ABBA Björn Ulvaeus and our four Vice Presidents are: South African singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, humanitarian and teacher Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Mexican composer and director Arturo Márquez, Japanese painter Kazuhiko Fukuoji, and Spanish screenwriter and director Ángeles González-Sinde Reig.
CISAC protects the rights and promotes the interests of creators worldwide. We enable collective management organisations to seamlessly represent creators across the globe and ensure that royalties flow to authors for the use of their works anywhere in the world.
Founded in 1926, CISAC is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation with headquarters in France and regional offices in Africa, South America (Chile), Asia-Pacific (China) and Europe (Hungary).
Our Activities
A complete section of this site is devoted to what we do. In summary, our key areas of expertise include:
1. Legal and Policy
CISAC brings together creators and their collective management organisations (CMOs) to lobby decision makers to strengthen copyright/authors’ rights worldwide. As part of this work, we also represent creators directly and pro-actively communicate the importance of fair remuneration to their livelihood.
2. Technical and Business Infrastructure
Using standardised international identifiers of works and a global system of databases, we help our members document, license, collect and distribute royalty payments for protected works.
3. Governance
We provide legal, financial and operational support to collective management organisations. Our members adhere to a set of Professional Rules and Binding Resolutions, ensuring that they operate according to best practices in the industry.
CISAC in Five Minutes
Want to know more about CISAC? Watch this five minute video.