Skopje, 18 November 2025 – The opening of the regional seminar “Authors First: Copyright as the Cornerstone of Creativity and Culture in the Audiovisual Sector” brought a strong display of international backing for efforts to strengthen authors’ rights in North Macedonia and across the Western Balkans. Representatives of major global and European institutions delivered coordinated messages underscoring the importance of functional copyright systems and expressing support for AZAS as host of the event.

Organised by the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) in collaboration with AZAS, AIPA Slovenia, and ZAPA Poland, the seminar gathered diplomats, copyright experts, collective management organisations, and creators from more than ten countries.

SAA: “Operational CMOs in every country are not a dream – they are achievable.”

In her opening remarks, Barbara Hayes, Chair of the SAA, emphasised the shared commitment across Europe to support audiovisual authors. She noted that although each country in the region faces distinct challenges, the underlying issues are common, and joint solutions are within reach.

Hayes pointed to recent achievements in neighbouring countries:

“In Slovenia and Serbia, retransmission revenues for audiovisual repertoires now exceed those for music. This is a result of sustained advocacy and professionalised CMOs – clear proof of what strong copyright infrastructure can deliver.”

She expressed confidence that North Macedonia can follow this trajectory with the right institutional support and regional cooperation.

WIPO: Authors’ remuneration is a global priority

Speaking on behalf of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),
Michele Woods, Director of the Copyright Law Division, conveyed greetings from WIPO Director General Darren Tang and Deputy Director General Sylvie Forbin.

Woods reaffirmed WIPO’s continued engagement with audiovisual authors’ rights:

“Authors’ remuneration is a key issue at WIPO, and we welcome North Macedonia’s active participation in this dialogue.”

She highlighted the significance of the new WIPO study on authors’ remuneration, initiated by Côte d’Ivoire with strong support from the SAA. Woods explained that such a study is the first step in bringing the topic forward at the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR), expressing hope that the proposal would advance at the upcoming December session.

France: “Fair remuneration is a pillar of cultural democracy.”

The Ambassador of France,
Christophe Le Rigoleur, underlined France’s historic role in defending authors’ rights. Referring to Beaumarchais’ pioneering advocacy in the 18th century and the founding of SACD in 1829, he highlighted the longstanding European tradition of supporting creators.

The Ambassador noted:

“Authors stand at the heart of the cultural value chain. Their rights and their remuneration must be protected, including in the audiovisual sector.”

He stressed that France views fair remuneration as an essential component of cultural policy – a principle that aligns with European efforts to support creative sectors across the Western Balkans.

Slovenia: Follow-up from last year’s seminar and continued diplomatic engagement

The Ambassador of Slovenia,
Gregor Presker, reflected on his participation in last year’s regional seminar and noted that in the year since, he had actively raised the challenges faced by audiovisual creators in discussions with various institutions, fellow ambassadors, and even the President of the Parliament of North Macedonia.

Presker reiterated Slovenia’s commitment to regional cultural cooperation and to strengthening copyright administration as part of broader democratic and European integration goals.

A Strong Signal of International Confidence

The coordinated messages from SAA, WIPO, France and Slovenia sent a clear message:
international institutions recognise the importance of developing robust authors’ rights systems in North Macedonia and stand ready to support AZAS and its partners.

The opening session demonstrated that:

• the issue of audiovisual authors’ remuneration is a regional and European concern,
• global organisations such as WIPO are monitoring and encouraging progress,
• EU Member States actively support strengthening copyright governance in the Western Balkans,
• and AZAS is viewed as a relevant and trusted partner in advancing these goals.