AVRS at AGM calls for implementation of copyright levy

 

The Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), the nation’s sole copyright society for movies, gathered virtually, Thursday, November 5, for the first time and for its 4th Annual General Meeting.

Among the many top movie industry stakeholders present were Prince Jide Kosoko, Francis Onwochei, Alhaji Sani Muazu, Ejike Asiegbu, Kunle Afolayan, Yemi Sholade, Lillian Amah-Aluko, Chidinma and Chidiebere Aneke (Aneke Twins), Fred Amata – DGN President and Ahmad Sarari – MOPPAN President among several others.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr. John Asein, gave his special remarks, commending the modest strides AVRS has made so far and promised continued support of NCC.

AVRS Chairman Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari through the Minister of Finance, Hadjia Zainab Ahmed and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to quickly accelerate the implementation of the Levy on Copyright Materials.

A statement by the society’s acting-General Manager, Mrs. Adeyemi Olubukola, said the chairman appealed to the NCC to speedily send the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances to the National Assembly for domestication and implementation.

He also called on the National Assembly for a quick passage of the reviewed Draft Bill of the Copyright Law.

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According to Ali-Balogun, “The law and regulation necessary for the implementation of the copyright levy has since being made and its continued delay denies us, right owners in the creative sector access to legitimate income that should have accrued to us from our sweat.

“The government cannot say that it wants to grow the creative industries and yet fails to quickly implement the levy on copyright materials, domestication and implementation of the Beijing Treaty and passage of the Copyright Bill 2015.”

Ali-Balogun announced that the AVRS general assembly has approved the society’s audited account for 2018 and 2019 and the report of the Directors. He also announced that the general assembly ratified the Board recommendation on the review of the ratio of the composition of membership of the different right holder groups within the company, bringing it in compliance with international best practice.

He said with this, AVRS will be able to participate on the global stage within the network of right holder organisations, for the maximum benefit of AVRS and its members.