To protect the financial and other fundamental rights of lyricists, music composers and singers' right, Bangladesh Lyricists, Composers and Performers Society (BLCPS) has formed with the support of the international organisation CISAC and World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
These organisations together launched Collective Management Organisation (CMO) that will perform licensing on behalf of a plurality of rights holders.
The new platform will ensure the copyright protection of musicians to put a ‘full-stop’ on music piracy and at the same time collect and distribute the royalty for the musicians.
The announcement was made on behalf of the organisations at the press club at 11am on Monday.
BLCPS was formed under a project initiated by Bangladesh Copyright & IP forum.
Under the new arrangements, right holders can transfer rights of all their present and future works to the CMO.
While reading out the announcement, Sujit Mustafa, CEO of BLCPS, said rights-holders are allowed to choose which works the CMO will administer on their behalf. The organisation will get technical helps from CISAC and WIPO to monitor this and ensure the royalty of rights-holders.”
Hamim Ahmed, general secretary of BLCPS said the project will take 27 months to function properly.”
From the performers' point of view Ayub Bachchu raised question on the freedom of performers.
Barrister Hamidul Mishbah said: “all the musicians will be free except that their specific selected rights will be taken care of by CMO. It will ensure their right under the copyright law.”
Sabina Yasmin emphasised on the security of financial and social rights of next generation musicians. She said art will exist if artists are alive, artist will keep the society alive.
At the press conference renowned musicians Alauddin Ali, Shuvro Dev, Maqsood, Munir Khan and many others were present.
