ICMP/CIEM-GESAC PRESS RELEASE
ICMP/CIEM & GESAC
ADOPT COMMON DECLARATION
ON
MANAGEMENT OF ONLINE COPYRIGHTS IN MUSIC WORKS
&
GOVERNANCE IN COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT SOCIETIES
On 7 July 2006, ICMP/CIEM, the global trade association of music publishers, and GESAC,
the European umbrella organisation for collective management societies managing
copyrights in music works, adopted a Common Declaration, as a first step, to establish,
within the Commission’s Recommendation on cross-border management of rights for
legitimate e music services, minima rules on governance for off- and online and on
management of online rights in musical works.
Bernard Miyet, President of GESAC, welcomes the Declaration's adoption as the outcome
of detailed discussions, reflecting a shared aim to drive the agenda: “This Declaration
provides a good opportunity to strengthen confidence between the two organisations as well
as a framework able to match the local characteristics of societies. It should thus be
acceptable to societies' governing bodies and lead to the required national legislative
evolutions. The discussions will go on with full consideration for the interests of everyone
concerned.”
Jean-Manuel de Scarano, Chairman of ICMP/CIEM, adds: “The Recommendation gives
rights holders a significant voice in how their rights are administered. We are delighted that
the societies are taking this challenge head-on and we look forward to an era of greater co-
operation between rights holders and rights administrators which will benefit rights holders
and users alike, with the availability of cross-border online licenses through the collective
management system.”
ICMP/CIEM and GESAC are committed to immediately encourage their respective members
to implement the Declaration within the next twelve months. An assessment of progress will
be made at that time. Simultaneously, ICMP/CIEM and GESAC will continue working
together to agree on further steps to be taken to improve cross-border licen