Seminar and Consultation on Collecting Management of Copyrights and Related Rights, 5-7 September 2006, Hanoi

On 5-6 September 2006, Vietnamese and International experts Dr. Silke von Lewinski, Head of International and European Copyright Law Department of Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property in Munich, Germany and Mr. Ang Kwee Tiang, Regional Director of International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) in Singapore presented an overview of the Collecting Management of Copyright and Related Rights systems in Europe, Vietnam and ASEAN. Over 100 officials, writers, publishers, composers and other cultural related artists, gathered to discuss about the protection of Copyrights & related rights and the efficient development & management of the collecting societies system in Vietnam.

The 1.5 day seminar was opened by Dr. Vu Manh Chu, Director General of the Copyright Office of Vietnam and HE Dr Markus Cornaro Ambassador-Head of the European Commission Delegation to Vietnam. Both emphasised the importance of a well-functioning collecting management of Copyright and Related Rights for the protection of artists and creators, the development of copyright related industries together with the promotion of cultural assets.

During the opening ceremony, HE Dr Markus Cornaro mentioned in particular the importance “to allow the system to be practical for rights owners and users, effective collecting management systems as well as collecting management organisations are needed. By managing their rights, it is rewarding creators for their work, encouraging them to contribute to the development of the cultural sector, attracting foreign investment and generally enabling the public and the economy as a whole, to benefit from the works.’’

The seminar was followed by a 1.5 day consultation session organised by ECAP II and undertaken by ECAP II experts Dr. von Lewinski and Mr. Ang Kwee Tiang. On 6 September, a consultation was held with representatives from the Vietnamese Centre for Protection of Music Copyright, the Centre for Literary Copyright and the Vietnam Industry Association focusing on the practical implementation of a Collective management of Copyright and Related Rights in Vietnam. On 7 September, a similar consultation was held at the Copyright Office of Vietnam (COV) on the draft implementing Decree on Copyright and Related rights under the new Intellectual Property Law and on the drafting of a regulation on the Collective Management of copyright and related rights in Vietnam.

Presentation materials are available for downloading:

- History of the Establishment and development of collecting management system
    * in Europe by Dr Silke von Lewinski, Head of the International and European
      Copyright Law Department, Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property, Munich,
       Germany
    * in Asia/Pacific: Mr Ang Kwee Tiang, Regional Director, International Confederation of
      Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), Singapore
- Roles, competence, duties, structures of several foreign collecting management
  organisations
    * European examples by Dr Silke von Lewinski
    * Asian examples by Mr Ang Kwee Tiang
- Legal system on collecting management of copyright and related rights: “European and ASEAN experiences”
    * European experiences by Dr Silke von Lewinski

- Experiences in organising, managing, collecting and distributing copyright fees by collective organisations in the world and internation co-operation in collecting and distributing royal fees
For Music and Phonographic industries:
* Other international experiences by Mr Ang Kwee Tiang
In the field of literature:
* Other international experiences by Dr Silke von Lewinski