IPOS seeks public feedback on proposed amendments to Jurisdiction and Operational Aspects of the Copyright Tribunal

SINGAPORE, 11 February 2008 – The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) is inviting feedback from the public on proposed changes to the jurisdiction and procedures of the Copyright Tribunal (“the Tribunal”).  These changes are intended to enhance the role of the Copyright Tribunal in meeting the needs of users and owners of copyright works in the digital age.  Members of the public will have from 11th February to 10th March 2008 to review and comment on the consultation documents which can be found at http://www.ipos.gov.sg.

The purpose of this public consultation exercise is to seek comments and suggestions from the public on whether the jurisdiction and procedures of the Copyright Tribunal should be changed to:

a. meet the growing needs of businesses and users in their use of new technologies to exploit copyright materials; and

b. more effectively strike a fair balance between ownership interests of copyright holders and the interests of users to have access to copyright works on reasonable terms.

IPOS is inviting the public to give feedback on the following proposed changes to the jurisdiction and operational aspects of the Copyright Tribunal:

a) to enable the Tribunal to hear disputes concerning remuneration and/or royalties payable in respect of licenses for all uses of all types of copyright works, including music and films; and
b) to increase the number of Tribunal panel members; and
c) to appoint up to two Deputy Presidents.

Stakeholders and members of the public are also welcomed to give further inputs or suggestions in relation to any aspect of the Copyright Tribunal.  Feedback should describe how the proposed changes above and any other suggestions may affect stakeholders and the public. 

More information may be obtained from the IPOS website http://www.ipos.gov.sg. Feedback may be submitted at the IPOS website or via mail to IPOS:

Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
51 Bras Basah Road  #04-01
Plaza By The Park  Singapore 189554

The Copyright Tribunal is an administrative tribunal established under the Copyright Act.  It has a limited jurisdiction over specified types of copyright licence disputes.  The Tribunal is also empowered to determine the equitable remuneration that should be paid to copyright owners for certain specific uses of their works, such as the making of copies of literary works by educational institutions for teaching purposes, or the making of recordings or films of works for the purposes of broadcasting.   

The Tribunal only has jurisdiction to hear such disputes as are specifically provided for under the Copyright Act. Currently, the specified jurisdiction of the Copyright Tribunal is narrow, and consequently, the Tribunal has limited ability to play an effective role in the maintenance of a fair balance between the ownership interests of copyright holders and the interests of users in having access to copyright works on reasonable terms. 

The Copyright Tribunal is currently not empowered to resolve disputes in relation to charges payable to a copyright owner for the public screening or reproduction of a film. Proprietors of entertainment outlets who wish to screen music videos in their outlets cannot apply to the Tribunal if they are of the view that the license fees charged or terms imposed by copyright owners are unreasonable.

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Formerly known as the Registry of Trade Marks and Patents, IPOS was established as a statutory board of the Ministry of Law on 1 April 2001. More information on IPOS can be found on www.ipos.gov.sg.