ABUJA, Feb 15– The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) said that it was collaborating with the South Africa Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) to strengthen the management of music copyright of both countries.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by COSON’s Senior Executive on Media, Mayree Uket.

The statement said COSON and SAMRO would improve the sharing of collective management technologies to protect the creative works of Nigerians and South Africans in the creative industry.

It also said that the bilateral ties would explore the best technologies in which the creative works of African artists can be collected, documented and compensated for their works.

It said one of such music copyright management technologies is a Pan African shared solution, known as the Pan African Repertoire Database.

The statement said the technology was set up via the establishment of a common Pan African Information Technology platform.

“The Pan African Repertoire Database is a welcome development for African music collecting societies.

“It will go a long way in reducing the cost involved in managing individual databases and will also make it a lot easier to license African works used anywhere around the globe,” said the statement.

It said the Pan African shared solution would ensure more efficient documentation and monitoring of the use of artistic works belonging to African right holders.

The statement said the project might have the participation of other key African societies like Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), Uganda Performing Rights Society (UPRS) and Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA)

It said the technology was expected to redefine the operations of copyright collective management in Africa.

Source: NAN