London - February 21, 2002
The international recording industry today welcomed confirmation that the WIPO
Phonograms and Performances Treaty, which creates the first global system of
copyright protection for record companies in the digital era, will come into
force on May 20, 2002.
The WPPT and its sister Treaty the WIPO Copyright Treaty are the most
important update of international copyright rules in more than 30 years. They
give record company tools to fight piracy on the Internet, and they provide
the first ever global system of exclusive rights that are a pre-requisite for
producers to distribute music online.
Honduras became the 30th country to accede to the WPPT on February 20th,
thereby triggering the Treaty's entry into force three months later. The WIPO
Treaties were signed by more than 60 countries at the Diplomatic Conference in
Geneva in December 1996. Thirty ratifications are necessary to bring each
Treaty into force. The WCT hit that landmark in December and will enter into
force on March 6.
Around half of the signing countries have still to ratify, but many have begun
the government processes necessary to join the treaties.
Jorgen Larsen, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music International, said:
"Universal and other music companies are rapidly moving into the era of
electronic distribution, with its tremendous opportunities to service all
consumers with all of our repertoire. The WIPO Treaties are an essential
milestone in this process. They give us an internationally-agreed copyright
framework that grants us the necessary rights and protection in the online
environment."
Jay Berman, Chairman and CEO of IFPI, the organization representing the
recording industry worldwide, said: "This Treaty represents the first global
copyright framework for record labels and performers in the digital era and
provides essential tools for the industry to do business in the online world.
It strengthens our industry's protection from piracy on the Internet, and it
provides the foundation needed for the music industry in every country to
introduce new online delivery services. These treaties benefit all record
companies globally -- independent and major record labels, in developing and
developed countries.
The WPPT benefits record companies in two key areas:
- It updates for the Internet the system of rights that currently
applies to the distribution and transmission of music in the physical
environment. Most importantly, it confirms that record companies have
exclusive rights on a global basis when they are making their repertoire
available in the online environment.
- It confirms that when record companies use technical measures, such as
encryption and scrambling, to manage the delivery of music to consumers, those
measures are legally protected from hackers and hacking equipment. This
protection is extended to producers worldwide, helping to stop rogue hacking
operations prospering from 'safe havens'.
Online distribution is expected to become a major segment of the music
business over the next decade. The entry into force of the WIPO Treaties
boosts the two-pronged strategy of the recording industry to develop new
subscription-based and alternative services, while at the same time fighting
to stop the proliferation of pirate and infringing music on the Internet.
A comprehensive IFPI briefing paper on the WIPO Treaties ("Bringing Copyright
into the new Millennium") is available on request or at our website
www.ifpi.org .
IFPI is the international trade organization of the record industry with a
membership comprising more than 1400 independent and major companies in over
70 countries.
WIPO (The World Intellectual Property Organization) is one of the 16
specialized agencies of the United Nations system of organizations. Based in
Geneva, WIPO administers 21 international treaties dealing with different
aspects of intellectual property protection. The Organization counts 177
nations as member states.
Further information is also available at the website of the World Intellectual
Property Organization (www.wipo.org).
For further information contact Adrian Strain or Fiona Harley, IFPI Communications, tel: +44 207 878 7900.