Experts Discuss Best Models to Established Reproduction Rights Organisation in UAE

28 February 2017

A host of local and international experts discussed the requirements needed for the UAE to successfully establish a Reproduction Rights Organisation (RRO), during the second day of the Emirates Reproduction Rights Forum, which took place yesterday (Tuesday) in Sharjah.

Hosted at the emirate’s Flag Island, the concluding activities in the first forum of its kind in the region featured experts on reproduction rights who discussed the practicalities and logistics of establishing an RRO.

Conducted in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Patron of the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA), the two-day forum was organised by EPA in collaboration with the Emirates Intellectual Property Association (EIPA) and Emirates Writers Union (EWU), with the participation of specialists from the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), and the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO).

Opening the agenda of the second day of the Emirates Reproduction Rights Forum was Ali Shaali, Vice President of EPA, whose introductory address spoke of how the establishment of an RRO in the UAE was a certainty. He recommended that the next step would be a closed session with all parties involved working together to coordinate the way forward.

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Titled ‘Managing a Reproduction Rights Organisation,’ the first presentation in the forum’s agenda for the second day was delivered by Caroline Morgan, CEO of IFRRO. She reiterated the essential role that RROs play in a country’s economy and highlighted the management requirements necessary for the setting up of a successful RRO.

“The first thing to consider when setting up an RRO is its governance structure. This will depend on the legal system of the country it is operating in, so every model will be different. RROs are non-profit organisations but they are not charities. They function to collect money from users, deduct the necessary funds for their operations and then distribute the rest to its licence holders,” she said.

The second presentation on the agenda was given by Nasser Ali Al Khasawneh, Managing Partner in ‘EverShed’s Company. Titled ‘RRO Models – Choosing the Right Model for the UAE’, Nasser said: “We are analysing global RRO models that could be best applied in the UAE in order for us to establish a CMO here. To date, there are no such organisations in the Arab world. This is why we are exploring the experience of a number of countries in this regard so that we can find a successful model that is suitable for the UAE and which will serve innovation and boost the nation’s economy”.

During the second workshop Tarja Olsson, an international advisor on intellectual property issues discussed the various methods of membership, licence distribution, fee collection, tariff setting and transparency of proceedings in RROs across the world.

The third and final discussion topic of the inaugural Emirates Reproduction Rights Forum was led by Michael Healy, Executive Director of International Relations at the Copyright Clearance Center. Titled ‘Establishing and Operating an RRO: Considering the Costs’ the presentation looked at the financial aspects of setting up a CMO in the UAE.

“One should set up an RRO as one would set up any other business. A three-year plan should be enacted which starts with a strategy, continues with the goals and objectives and finishes with costs. The costs for the UAE will depend on what type of RRO it wishes to establish, so it is important to involve all local stakeholders to discuss requirements and to seek support from other RROs as well as the IFRRO” he said.  

The Emirates Reproduction Rights Forum 2017 was organised by Emirates Publishers Association (EPA), in collaboration with the Emirates Intellectual Property Association (EIPA) and Emirates Writers Union (EWU), with the participation of specialists from the Copyright Clearance Center, USA and the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO). The forum was sponsored by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sharjah Islamic Bank.

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© Press Release 2017