Administration of Copyrights through Collective Management Societies in Ethiopia: Exploring Legal Gaps and Challenges

Abstract

 This article examines the legal gaps and other challenges that hold back the administration of copyright and neighboring rights through the system of copyright collective management societies. Effective collective management of copyright requires, inter alia, comprehensive copyright legal framework that provides robust rights and remedies to owners and /or authors of works, and facilitates the establishment and operation of copyright collective management societies. The author of this article argues that the Ethiopian copyright legal regime lacks clarity on the requirements of three sectors of copyright and related rights for establishment of collective management society, and status of royalty. The copyright legal regime fails not only to recognize users’ right to negotiate in the process of setting up royalty scheme and fees, but also to incorporate principles that should be considered in setting up royalty schemes. Moreover, the copyright legal regime fails to recognize private levy system, regulate online environment, and limits government role in the regulation of collective management societies. These findings call for revising the Ethiopian copyright legal regime to ensure effective administration of copyright and neighbouring rights through the system of collective management of copyright.