Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mimi Mefo Info
Published on 2024-03-06 20:24:46
In a statement published a few days ago, the Cameroon Music Corporation (CMC) did not mince words in denouncing with “the utmost energy, the impertinence of the latest press release issued by the President of the Commission for the Control of Collective Management Organizations (CCOGC). This statement indicated the end of the special recovery operation for arrears of copyright royalties and the execution of the CRTV royalties in the special deposit account housed at CBC-Bank. Read the full statement.
The General Supervision of ORSAR and the Cameroon Music Corporation (CMC) have learned with consternation the radio-press release published on February 27, 2024 by the President of the Commission for the Control of Collective Management Organizations (CCOGC). In his raging desire to present himself as a sort of modern-day “Zorro,” and in disregard of legally and freely concluded agreements between private entities, the President informs copyright and neighboring rights holders that the special recovery operation for arrears of copyright royalties (ORSAR) has ended. And that the account opened for this operation has been officially closed. As a result, he concludes, the payment by CRTV of the due royalties will be made in the Special Deposit Account housed at CBC-Bank.
While denouncing with the utmost energy the impertinence of this press release, the ORSAR Supervision and CMC wish to provide the following clarifications regarding the media confusion this communication has wrongly caused.
1- Contrary to the fabrications mentioned in the aforementioned statement, the ORSAR account opened at SCB has never been closed. This account belongs to private entities. The only entities authorized to close it are Sociladra, Scaap, Socadap, and CMC.
2- The Memorandum of Understanding signed between the relevant CMOs for ORSAR regarding arrears from 2005-2017 states in its article 6 that “funds from recoveries will be deposited in an account opened for this purpose.” This account was opened at SCB CAMEROUN and transmitted in 2020 to all relevant parties, including CRTV. And it is worth noting that legally formed agreements serve as a law for all parties involved. No one can deviate from it, not even the judge. And certainly not CRTV.
3- The Memorandum of Understanding signed between the relevant and approved CMOs before December 2017 on the one hand and CRTV on the other hand does not concern CCOGC or the new entities claiming to have obtained their approval in 2018, or later.
4- The perverted statement from the President of CCOGC cannot be a source of law. It should also be noted, to criticize it, that the account at CBC-Bank is not the actual Special Deposit Account. It is known that the account at CBC-Bank, where private royalties are deposited, is inexplicably managed by CCOGC, a public entity. An absurdity. In light of the above, no threat, no intimidation will make us waver in our determination to defend our rights in accordance with the institutions of the Republic that guarantee freedom, justice, law, and equity to all.
The arrears owed by CRTV for the period 2015-2017 are much higher than 850 million FCFA. These private funds, from private works, will be deposited in the arrears account in accordance with the memorandum of understanding signed between the relevant CMOs and CRTV. Otherwise, everyone will have to face the consequences.
Albert Atangana
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
