CISAC visits Macao to gain an in-depth understanding of music copyright development

     (Macao, 18th July 2018) – Satoshi Watanabe, Chairman of Asia-Pacific and Benjamin NG, Regional Director for Asia-Pacific of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), visited Macao on 18th July to gain an in-depth understanding of music copyright development in Macao. They also visited the Office of the Secretary for Economic and Financial Affairs with UNG Kuoc Iang, the CEO of Macau Association of Composers, Authors & Publishers (MACA) and MACA representative, to have meeting with Gonçalo Cabral, the legal counsel of GSEF.

     During the meeting, Gonçalo Cabral shared the legal work in protecting intellectual property rights with the visitors. UNG introduced the previous and current events of MACA on the promotion and education to Macao citizen about the protection of intellectual property and music copyrights, and the development of music licensing in the past 10 years. Satoshi Watanabe and Benjamin NG were fascinated on the news as the protection is getting more concerned, they also pointed out Macao is a world tourism and leisure center, and tourism is driving the diversified economy to flourish. CISAC and national associations have always been concerned about the development of copyright in Macao, especially on broadcast media, cinemas, karaoke and the use of its members' music works by digital transmission. They also shared the latest information in global intellectual property development and music on international radio media such as radio and television stations. It is expected the development of copyright in Macao will be closer to the international pace.

     CISAC is a non-profit and non-governmental organization which works closely with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The members are more than 230 collective management organizations around the world, 30 of which are from the Asia Pacific region. Through CISAC, MACA has signed reciprocal agreements with 49 overseas collective management organizations, managing musical works of more than 2 million music creators in 110 countries and regions in Macau.

photos of Gonçalo Cabral, representatives of CISAC and MACA