Collective rights management

Collective rights management is the licensing of copyright and related rights by organisations acting on behalf of rights owners. Collective management organisations (CMOs), sometimes also referred to as collecting societies, typically represent groups of copyright and related rights owners, i.e; authors (such as writers, composers, painters and photographers), performers (such as musicians, actors and dancers), publishers, phonogram producers, film producers and other rights holders At the least, rights holders authorize collective rights management organizations to monitor the use of their works, negotiate licenses with prospective users, document correct right management data and information, collect remuneration for use of copyrighted works, ensuring a fair distribution of such remuneration amongst rightsholders. WMOs also act on legal mandates. Governmental supervision varies across jurisdictions. Collective rights management is almost as old as copyright law itself. Collective rights management through a CMO/collecting society first occurred in France in 1777 for the use of dramatic and literary works in theatre, attributed to the efforts of Pierre Beaumarchais. The first WMO in music was established in 1850 in France. Collective rights management through CMOs may cover a range of exclusive rights granted under copyright law, whether licensed by rights holders or subject to statutory collective management, including: the right to public performance, for example when music is played or performed in bars or clubs. the right to broadcasting, for example when live or recorded performances are broadcast on radio or television the mechanical reproduction rights in recorded music, for example where works are reproduced for recording and distribution purposes, such as CDs or online streaming the performing rights in dramatical works, for example when a theatre plays a work the rights of reprographic reproduction of literary, visual and musical works, for example where a book or sheet music are copied using a photocopier related rights, for example the rights of performers and producers in recorded music when used in broadcasts The collective management of copyright and related rights is undertaken by various types of CMOs.