Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPOA) was accredited to operate in all spheres of copyright and related rights in Georgia. On 26 July 2023, the amendments to the Law of Georgia on Copyright and Related Rights has entered into force, to provide regulation of the activities of property rights’ collective management organizations (CMO) in accordance with the modern international standards – to ensure transparent and fair process of collection and distribution of honoraria. By the decision of the accreditation commission, only Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPOA) was accredited to operate in all spheres of copyright and related rights in Georgia. IPOA is the Association founded by Georgian artists and oriented towards development of the arts, with the final goal to improve protection of the intellectual property rights, in addition to development of the arts. Effective mechanisms for collection, distribution and payment of the honoraria, suitable software; coverage of the regions of Georgia – are the key priorities, thanks to which the Association was accredited. In addition, with respect of international contacts, sharing and introduction of the European standards, it is significant that the director in international relations of the Association is German, with experience in this sphere, former EVP Universal Music Digital and the Executive Advisor to the German Concert Promoters Collecting Society GWVR, Stefan Schulz. Stefan Schulz’s vast experience in the sphere of music is of great significance for the copyrights industry. With his involvement, IPOA will apply the state-of-the-art technologies to ensure accuracy of collection of honoraria, transparency and protection of the authors’ rights in Georgia. Modern technologies, European standards, highly qualified personnel will ensure fair protection of the copyright, both in Georgia and abroad.
