RUR took part in the creation of Confederation of Rightholders’ Societies of Europe and Asia – a supranational organization in the field of intellectual property

On 25 May Confederation of Rightholders’ Societies of Europe and Asia (CRSEA) was established in Minsk, uniting national organizations on the management of rights of the various categories of right holders in the territories of EEU and CIS countries.

The constituent conference, which took place in the Republican cultural and educational Centre for the administration of the affairs of the President of the Republic of Belarus, was attended by representatives of the leading collective societies from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan.

The creation of the Confederation of Rightholders’ societies of Europe and Asia was initiated by Russian Societies for the collective management of authors’ rights and related rights, such as Russian Union of right holders (RUR), Russian Organization for Intellectual Property (VOIS) and Russian Authors’ Society (RAO) with the assistance of the State service for intellectual property and innovation of Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzpatent).

The initiative was supported by main societies from the Eurasian Economic Union countries, as well as by a number of CIS countries.

The key goals of the Confederation are seen by the initiators in the elaboration and implementation of common standards and principles of transparency and accountability of societies in relations with right holders, including monitoring and auditing the activities of member organizations of the Confederation, verifying and publishing their reporting, developing strategies for the possible innovative development of the societies and enhancing their effectiveness.

“Cultural and economic affinity of our countries greatly contributes to our close interaction. Essentially, we are going through the same development path of the rights management system and face similar problems. Therefore, the establishment of the Confederation is a logical and organic solution for all of us, which will maximize the effectiveness of both individual societies and the whole system of collective rights management in the territory of EEU and CIS”, noted Andrei Krichevskyi, the Director-General of VOIS and RUR. “The very fact that such a Confederation emerged is the result of great joint efforts. This is the evidence that we are able to take this hard way, ensuring maximum benefits for the right holders and the economies of our states.”

Participants have emphasized that the Confederation will not become an alternative to national organizations, it should become a single centre for common tasks and a place for regular exchange of information, educational programmes, scientific and cultural activities in the territories of the CRSEA member countries. All of this together will help the societies to continually enhance the protection level of the interests of the rights holders who entrust organizations with their intellectual rights.

“We wholeheartedly welcome the creation of the Confederation, believe that such a unique association in Eurasia is necessary,” underlined Dosali Esenaliev, the president of the State service for intellectual property and innovation under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

“We believe that it is now the time to create a unifying structure.” Many of our countries have problems that are more understandable to us than to the Western countries and it will be easier for us to deal with them together. “We will participate actively in the Confederation”, said Susanna Nersisyan, the Director General of “Armauthor”, non-governmental organization for the management of rights of authors and holders of neighboring rights (Armenia).

The General Assembly, the highest body of government, the Presidium, the body of representation of right holders from all the countries of the Confederation, as well as the executive bodies – the Secretary General and the Director General, were approved to serve as CRSEA governing bodies and will be elected for a term of one year. The participation of CRSEA member countries in the governing bodies will be on a rotating basis, similar to that of Eurasian Economic Commission.

The headquarters of the Confederation will be located in Moscow (Russian Federation).

“Despite the fact that we represent different countries, we have been able to work together to develop an elaborate structure that will make the work of the authors’ societies in the territory of EEU more efficient and transparent. The Confederation is an entirely new ground for a substantive inter-state dialogue”, highlighted Alexander Sukhotin, first Deputy Director-General of the Russian Authors’ Society (RAO).

Ismail Mammadkarimov, the president of the Azerbaijani Authors’ Society, was elected as a Director-General of CRSEA.

“I believe that the creation of the Confederation is an important and necessary undertaking which we talked about for quite some time,” said Mr. Mammadkarimov.

Andrei Krichevskyi, Director-General of the Russian Union of Rights holders (RUR) and Russian Organization for Intellectual Property (VOIS), was unanimously elected as a Secretary-general of CRSEA.

“The Confederation should not be limited to EEU countries, we should invite to CRSEA other authors’ organizations from Moldova, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other culturally and economically close countries. Cooperation with key international organizations in the sphere of intellectual property should also be organized,” underlined Mr. Krichevskyi.

The CRSEA Presidium includes Igor Krutoi, composer, Honored Artist of the RF (Russia); Maria Lemesheva, editor-in-chief of the Russian version of the magazine “The Hollywood Reporter” (Russia); Siyavush Kerimi, composer, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, rector of the National conservatory (Azerbaijan); Fakhraddin Meidanly, poet and writer (Azerbaijan); Irina Dorofeeva, singer, Honored Artist of RB, deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly (Belarus); Oleg Molchan, composer, president of the council of authors (Belarus); Maral Yskakbaj, author, chairman of the authors’ Council of the Kazakh Authors’ Society (Kazakhstan); Nurlan Abdullin, singer, Honored artist of the RK (Kazakhstan) and other representatives of the member countries of the Confederation.

In the framework of the constituent assembly, the decision was made that alongside with non-governmental organizations, state bodies which manage neighbouring rights are entitled to participate in the Confederation.

During the discussion, participants noted the importance of a timely response to today’s challenges and, as a consequence, the need to change the vector of intellectual rights management on a collective basis.

“Whereas in the past, rights-management societies looked like fiscal authorities, it is now time for a new ideology; we strive to provide both right holders and users with modern, convenient and technological services. All our organizations should expand the format of their activities, keep pace with the times, and then we will be able to ensure effective representation and protection of the interests of the right holders, not only at the national level but also internationally,” emphasized Maksim Dmitriev, the Director-general of the Russian Authors’ Society.

Members of the Confederation discussed new large-scale software development “Hypergraph”, a unique technological solution for organizations for the collective management of authors’ rights and related rights. “Hypergraph” is a software complex for recording and processing information on intellectual property objects and right holders (authors, performers, phonogram producers), as well as for managing collection and distribution of remuneration. “Hypergraph” is intended to become the technological basis of CRSEA.

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The constituent assembly of CRSEA was attended by representatives of the following organizations:

from Russia – Russian Authors’ society (Maxim Dmitriev, Alexander Sukhotin), Russian Organization for intellectual Property, Russian Union of Rights holders (Andrei Krichevskyi, Alexei Karelov), non-profit partnership “Partnership on the protection and management of rights in the sphere of arts” (Erik Valdés-Martínes);

From Kazakhstan – Kazakh Society for the rights management of intellectual property (Arman Kenzhebaev), Kazakh Authors’ Society (Ayman Yskakbai, Serik Isayev);

From Belarus – Non-governmental association “Belarusian Society of Authors, performers and other rights holders” (Sergey Kukhto), National Centre for Intellectual Property of the Republic of Belarus (Alexei Bichurin);

From Armenia, Non-governmental organization for the management of the rights of authors and holders of neighbouring rights “Armauthor” (Susanna Nersisyan, Marineh Avetisyan);

From Kyrgyzstan – the State service for intellectual property and innovation of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (Dosalyi Esenaliev);

From Azerbaijan – Non-governmental association “Azerbaijanian Authors’ Society” (Ismail Mammadkarimov).

“An integral part of the Hypergraph programme complex is Fonmix, b2b service for legal background broadcasting, which offers remote management of music, advertisement and information policies in the catering, service and trade industries. Fonmix allows professional market participants and right holders to obtain accurate and reliable information on the use of phonograms and musical works”, noted Valeriya Pankratova, development director of “Formaks”, Russian development company. “We will soon be ready to begin implementing “Hypergraph” complex in CRSEA member organizations.

As early as in June or July 2017, the members of the Confederation will hold a General Presidium meeting in Moscow, which will be devoted to the formation of CRSEA working committees, among other issues.