WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) now in effect in Trinidad and Tobago.
Monday 1st December 2008
For over a decade, RIATT has been lobbying for the right for Producers and Performers to be paid whenever their recordings are played over the radio or at a restaurant. This right to payment could only have been exercised when Trinidad and Tobago became a signatory to World Intellectual Property Organization Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT).
On August 28th , 2008, RIATT welcomed Trinidad and Tobago’s accession to the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and to the WIPO Performances and Phonogram Treaty (WPPT).
On Friday November 28, 2008 said treaties entered into force in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. WCT applies to authors and composers for example members of COTT while WPPT applies to producers, rights owners of sound recordings and audio visual works, performers such as singers, musicians, members of PanTrinbago, TUCO, etc.
WPPT provides a list of benefits. We have outlined two (2) points bellow.
1) WPPT Article 5 ‘Moral Rights of
Performers’.
The treaty gives performers the ‘moral right’ normally to be identified
as the performer of a recording, and to prevent uses that can damage his or
her reputation.
2) WPPT Article 15 ‘Right to Remuneration
for Broadcasting and Communication to the Public’
The treaty outlines the right for Producers and Performers to be financially
rewarded whenever their recordings and performances are publicly performed and
broadcasted via radio and television.
WPPT now allows newly established Related Rights Agency for Producers and Performers (ReRAPP) to execute its operations. ReRAPP is a collective management rights agency, authorized to license, collect and distribute fees for the public performance and broadcasting of sound recordings and audio visual works.
The Ministry of Legal Affairs holds the portfolio for intellectual property
rights in Trinidad and Tobago. We await a pronouncement from the IPO office
to expand on these and other benefits brought about from the implementation
of both WCT and WPPT.
Anyone wanting to download a copy of WPPT can copy and paste link in in your url
www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/wppt/trtdocs_wo034.html
For further information contact:
Fabien Alfonso
Email: info@riatt.org
1-868-682-8174