Eastern Caribbean Copyright Licensing Association has been Formed

The Eastern Caribbean Copyright Licensing Association, (ECCLA), has been incorporated in the OECS Member States. ECCLA was established to ensure that creators and publishers of image and text-based works are protected and remunerated for the copying of their copyrighted works.

The establishment of ECCLA followed a series of consultations sponsored by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), on the establishment of a single reproduction rights organization (RRO) that would service small member states like those in the OECS.

It is hoped that this new association will represent the best interests of creators and publishers from the sub-region, foster creativity and realize the full potential of intellectual property, especially in the context of globalization and economies of scale. Writers, photographers, poets, composers, illustrators, artists and other visual creators whose work is published in printed form and publishers of books, magazines, newspapers and other periodicals are encouraged to join ECCLA.

ECCLA's head office will be based in Saint Lucia. Its Board of Directors comprises Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson of Saint Kitts and Nevis as President, McCarthy Marie of Dominica as Vice President and Michael Fontenelle of Saint Lucia as Treasurer. Other directors include Wayne A M Williams of Grenada and Desiree Richards of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Lydia Elliott of Saint Lucia has been appointed as the association’s Secretary.

ECCLA is one of 5 organizations established in the Caribbean to protect the interests copyright holders of image and text-based works; the others being JAMCOPY in Jamaica, the Trinidad and Tobago Reprographic Rights Organisation (TTRRO), the Barbados Copyright Agency Inc. (BCOPY) and the Belize Copyright Licensing Agency (BECLA).

The first meeting of ECCLA was held in Barbados on Tuesday March 29th 2011. The meeting adopted the proposed byelaws of the Association and developed a three-year business plan, which includes a membership drive. The meeting also agreed to the execution of both a management and a bilateral agreement with the Jamaica Copyright Licensing Agency, (JAMCOPY) to assist in the effective administration of the work of the new Association.