Webinar “Collective Management Organizations in Georgia” was Organized by CLDP

As part of the cooperation between the Commercial Law Development Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia Sakpatenti, a meeting was held on collective management in the field of copyright in Georgia. 

Members of the Working Group of the Culture Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, together with the representatives of Sakpatenti and invited experts, discussed the significant topics related to strengthening the system of collective management organizations in Georgia. Mr. Mihaly Ficsor, expert of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), introduced to the participants the analysis of the regulations related to collective management organizations stipulated in the “Law of Georgia on Copyright and Related Rights”, the assessment of the current situation and concluding recommendations. During the meeting, the representatives of WIPO and the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) shared with the participants their vision and international best practices. 

The meeting, held in the online mode, was attended by members of the Working Group of the Culture Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, representatives of the Administration of the Government of Georgia and Sakpatenti. The study of the legislative and institutional framework in the field of collective management in Georgia and elaboration of recommendations for legislative and institutional reforms will strengthen collective management of economic rights in Georgia and restore the trust of users and right holders towards the system.

Within the framework of active cooperation with Sakpatenti, CLDP has been assisting Georgia in terms of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights for many years, including implementation of the annual training program for judges. 

The CLDP is the technical assistance arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the General Counsel, which provides technical assistance in the commercial law sphere to the governments and private sectors of transitional countries in support of their economic development goals. As part of the U.S. Government’s technical assistance to Georgia, CLDP has been tasked with leading a multi-year project that builds the capacity of public sector institutions and private sector stakeholders to protect and enforce intellectual property rights (IPR), including legal capacity building annual program for judges.