Caribbean Reprographic Caribbean Reprographic ProjectProject

Carol NewmanCarol Newman

JAMCOPYJAMCOPY

Introducing the CaribbeanIntroducing the Caribbean

• Several islands and mainland territories Several islands and mainland territories surrounded by, or bordering on, the surrounded by, or bordering on, the Caribbean SeaCaribbean Sea

• Spread from the southern tip of Florida in the Spread from the southern tip of Florida in the north to the northern shores of Venezuela in north to the northern shores of Venezuela in the south and all that lies in betweenthe south and all that lies in between

• Several groupings within this region but the Several groupings within this region but the one applicable for the purposes of this one applicable for the purposes of this presentation is the CARICOM grouping presentation is the CARICOM grouping

Territories of the CaribbeanTerritories of the Caribbean

CARICOMCARICOM

• English speaking Commonwealth English speaking Commonwealth Caribbean StatesCaribbean States

• Established in 1973 to facilitate Established in 1973 to facilitate cooperation in economic, social, cultural cooperation in economic, social, cultural and political mattersand political matters

• Membership extended in 1995 to include Membership extended in 1995 to include non-English speaking statesnon-English speaking states

• 14 member states14 member states

• Population of 15 millionPopulation of 15 million

Important DemographicsImportant Demographics

• St. Kitts and Nevis has smallest St. Kitts and Nevis has smallest population – 44,000population – 44,000

• Jamaica has largest (English speaking) Jamaica has largest (English speaking) – 2.7M– 2.7M

• Lowest GDP – Guyana - US$831Lowest GDP – Guyana - US$831• Highest GDP – The Bahamas –Highest GDP – The Bahamas –

US$15,894US$15,894• But, next to the Bahamas is Barbados But, next to the Bahamas is Barbados

with US$9,700with US$9,700

Purpose of IP AdministrationPurpose of IP Administration

• To promote copyright complianceTo promote copyright compliance

• To enable commerce to exist around To enable commerce to exist around copyrightcopyright

• To provide efficient management of To provide efficient management of rights for both rights holders and usersrights for both rights holders and users

• To return VALUE to rights holders (value To return VALUE to rights holders (value not exclusively limited to money)not exclusively limited to money)

Regional Challenges and Regional Challenges and SolutionsSolutions• The region faces unique challenges:The region faces unique challenges:

– small size and population base of the territoriessmall size and population base of the territories– their low GDPtheir low GDP

• National collecting societies do not generate sufficient National collecting societies do not generate sufficient revenue for viability, efficiency and sustainability.revenue for viability, efficiency and sustainability.

• The smaller pool of licensors (rightsholders) and The smaller pool of licensors (rightsholders) and prospective licensees (users) in the area of prospective licensees (users) in the area of reprographic reproduction rights, relative to musical reprographic reproduction rights, relative to musical rights, makes a regional approach less taxing on the rights, makes a regional approach less taxing on the limited resources of the countries and ultimately more limited resources of the countries and ultimately more beneficial to national rights holders in the Caribbean.beneficial to national rights holders in the Caribbean.

Question: Question:

• How could we as a region leverage How could we as a region leverage our IP administration capabilities as a our IP administration capabilities as a region, as diverse as we are, to region, as diverse as we are, to maximize the potential benefits both maximize the potential benefits both for users and rights holders in the for users and rights holders in the region?region?

Suggestion/IdeaSuggestion/Idea

• Collaboration:Collaboration:– Regional collaboration would provide a Regional collaboration would provide a

comprehensive region-wide solution for comprehensive region-wide solution for the management of rights to the benefit the management of rights to the benefit of all the countries concernedof all the countries concerned

– With the support of IFRRO and WIPO, the With the support of IFRRO and WIPO, the Caribbean Reprographic Project (CRP) Caribbean Reprographic Project (CRP) was establishedwas established

Caribbean Reprographic Caribbean Reprographic Project Project • 2005: Ocho Rios Consultation2005: Ocho Rios Consultation

– Agreement to collaborate in the relevant functions Agreement to collaborate in the relevant functions required, on behalf of rightsholders in the area of required, on behalf of rightsholders in the area of reprographyreprography

– Regional Steering Committee establishedRegional Steering Committee established– Action Plan formulatedAction Plan formulated

• 2006: Trinidad Consultation 2006: Trinidad Consultation – Reaffirmation of objectivesReaffirmation of objectives– Areas of cooperationAreas of cooperation

• WIPO Regional Meeting of Heads of Intellectual WIPO Regional Meeting of Heads of Intellectual Property of Caribbean Countries – Property of Caribbean Countries –

• WIPO Regional Ministerial Level Meeting on WIPO Regional Ministerial Level Meeting on Intellectual Property for Caribbean Countries - Intellectual Property for Caribbean Countries - Endorsement of CRPEndorsement of CRP

Proposed Caribbean ModelProposed Caribbean Model

• The regional collaboration model comprises:The regional collaboration model comprises:

• 3 nationals RROs in Jamaica, Trinidad, 3 nationals RROs in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados Barbados

• a sub regional RRO for the OECS countriesa sub regional RRO for the OECS countries

• a regional RRO to perform agreed a regional RRO to perform agreed collaborative functions for economies of collaborative functions for economies of scale, greater reach, impact, visibility, scale, greater reach, impact, visibility, effectiveness and, ultimately, sustainabilityeffectiveness and, ultimately, sustainability

ProgressProgress

• 3 National RROs:3 National RROs:– Jamaica (JAMCOPY)Jamaica (JAMCOPY)– Trinidad & Tobago (TTRRO)Trinidad & Tobago (TTRRO)– Barbados (BCOPY)Barbados (BCOPY)

• 1 OECS Sub-regional RRO – ECCLA1 OECS Sub-regional RRO – ECCLA– Antigua & BarbudaAntigua & Barbuda– DominicaDominica– GrenadaGrenada– St. LuciaSt. Lucia– St. KittsSt. Kitts– St. VincentSt. Vincent

AdministrationAdministration

• JAMCOPY to perform specific services JAMCOPY to perform specific services forfor– BCOPY BCOPY – ECCLAECCLA

Next Steps - Advancing the Next Steps - Advancing the Caribbean Reprographic Caribbean Reprographic ProjectProject• 2008 Montego Bay Consultation – 2008 Montego Bay Consultation –

November 1November 1

Thank you for your Thank you for your attentionattention