Providing an easy and affordable way
THE JAMAICAN Copyright Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY) is Jamaica’s collective management organisation (CMO) for published text and image-based works.
It was established in 1998 by Jamaican writers, publishers, photographers, poets, journalists, visual artists, and music composers to help manage their reproduction rights. JAMCOPY facilitates access to the works of these creators by providing an easy and affordable way for users to legally copy extracts from books, magazines, newspapers and journals. Collective management is therefore key to the proper functioning of the copyright system and, by extension, the creative industry.
The annual Intellectual Property Day celebrates the creative mind – this wellspring of imagination, insights, ideas and innovation that drives the creative industry. The various forms of original creative expressions that comprise intellectual property works educate, inform, delight and inspire us. They enable discovery and expression of our talents, while building identity awareness and cultural confidence as individuals and as a nation.
The economic potential of the Jamaican book and publishing industry is yet to be fully appreciated. A study in 2008 by the World Intellectual Property Organisation on the value of the Jamaican copyright industry reported that the press and literature sector outranked music and theatrical productions in contributions to GDP and outperformed both the music and theatrical productions and radio and television sectors in providing employment.
This suggests that the written word and its dissemination to the public is a powerhouse of job creation and economic opportunity. JAMCOPY is pleased to play its part in encouraging the growth and development of the local literary sector. As we mark our anniversary milestone of 20 years and look ahead to many more, JAMCOPY encourages all Jamaicans, as present and future creators and users of published works, to revere our national literary heritage by respecting the copyright of our authors and publishers.