The turmoil over intellectual property has not subsided in the country. Even after 53 long years of independence, artists across the country still have to go through the legal struggles to have rights and royalties for their own music.
However, for the past couple of years the Bangladesh Copyright Office has been working artists rights to their own music. They have been working together with BLCPS (Bangladesh Lyricists, Composers and Performers Society) as CMO.
But lack of concerted interest among vocalists, lyricists, composers and producers has hampered the whole process. As a result, the benefit of intellectual property or CMO does not go to the hands of the right creators.
A day-long special workshop was held on June 4 at Six Seasons Hotel in the capital to resolve these complications or obstacles. This mentorship program is jointly organized by Bangladesh Copyright Office and BLCPS in collaboration with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and Japan Copyright Office.
Representatives of WIPO and IPRS (Indian Performing Rights Society) were present and provided training and advice on various topics.
The program started at 10 am on Tuesday with welcome speech. On behalf of BLCPS, WIPO and Bangladesh Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Hamin Ahmed, Miyuki Monroig and Nafriza Shyama delivered the welcome address respectively.
Then Registrar of Copyrights Md Daud Miah, NDC (Additional Secretary) announced the inauguration of the day's programme.
After the inauguration, a total of 5 important sessions were held in phases.
The topic of the first session was - WIPO's activities in taking up new projects and collective management to support the establishment and development of local CMOs. The session was moderated by Miyuki Monroig, program officer of the agency's copyright division.
The topic of the second session was 'CISAC's Role and Initiatives in Ensuring Seamless Representation of Music Producers Worldwide and Effective Flow of Royalty to Music Producers'. Benjamin Ng, Regional Director of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) discussed this issue.
The third session of the day held after the midday break was on – 'The Role of Local CMOs in Building a Creative Ecosystem for Music Producers and Music Listeners/Consumers: What CMOs Can Contribute to You'.
The fourth session of the day was conducted by Md Daud Mia, Registrar, Bangladesh Copyright Office on the topic 'Current status of copyright and related rights in Bangladesh and the support it can provide to support music composers and creative industries in the future'.
In the final session of the day, BLCPS CEO Miles Band Pradhan Hamin Ahmed presented the current performance status and future outlook of BLC
