Agreement Binds SPA and UNAC-SA and Moves Portuguese-Speaking Countries Copyright Project Forward (sólo en inglés)

Sociedade Portuguesa de Autores (SPA) signed a technical assistance agreement with the Angolan Association of Artists and Composers, União Nacional de Artistas e Compositores - Sociedade de Autores (UNAC-SA), during the CISAC African Committee meetings that took place in Luanda.

Said agreement secures a percentage of all the (copyright and related rights) collections in favor of SPA for five years and it is renewable for identical periods of time. The agreement also provides for a strong cultural exchange on several levels between both societies and both countries.

SPA's representative at the African Committee, Ms. Paula Martins Cunha (General Manager of SPA), was exceptionally invited to participate in the African Committee's Executive Committee meeting. She was asked to give a speech on SPA's strategic vision for Portuguese-speaking countries, pointing out Africa's specific needs.

At the end of the African Committee's meeting, "SPA's high-quality contribution" was underlined. It was also mentioned in the speech by CISAC's Director General, Gadi Oron.

In representation of CISAC, Ms. Paula Martins Cunha participated in the negotiation meeting with the big Angolan operators. She also accompanied CISAC's Director General in all his visits in Luanda, and had meetings with the Angolan Minister of Culture and executives of other African societies, namely SOMAS (Mozambique). Further, a meeting took place in Luanda with UNAC-SA to prepare the next steps in this cooperation process.

SPA has thus taken a significant step towards the implementation of its plan of cooperation with the Portuguese-speaking countries in what concerns copyright collective management.