The MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) has outlined details of its alignment with the regulations implementing the Collective Rights Management (CRM) Directive in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
The aim of the CRM Directive is to ensure that CMOs act in the best interests of the rights holders they represent, outlining the following objectives: to modernise and improve standards of governance, financial management and transparency of EU CMOs; to promote a level playing field for the multi-territorial licensing of online music; and to create dynamic cross-border licensing structures to increase the uptake of legitimate web-based music services. The Directive was implemented into UK law in April 2016.
While the MCPS is not classified as a CMO due to its ownership and management structure, it has consulted with the IPO regarding the requirements of the CRM Directive to highlight its commitment to [the Directives] principles.
The MCPS has documented its compliance through an MOU with the IPO, which will be reviewed annually.
Ros Lynch, director of copyright and enforcement, said: “We welcome the conclusion of this Memorandum of Understanding, which gives valuable clarity to MCPS’s members and users about the standards they can expect. We look forward to continuing to work with MCPS to monitor their progress.”
Jane Dyball, CEO, MCPS, added: “MCPS wholeheartedly welcomes the CRM Directive’s principles of transparency, representativeness, accountability, efficiency and fairness and fully appreciates the commitment shown by the IPO in ensuring full compliance with those principles throughout our industry.”
