15/05/2025
Theme: Enabling Access, Enriching Culture and Advancing Knowledge Through Collective Licensing
Date: Monday, 9th June 2025
Venue: GNAT Hall /Zoom
Organized by: CopyGhana in Partnership with the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisation (IFRRO)
1. Background
Access to copyrighted works is essential to the development of a literate, informed, and innovative society. In Ghana, increasing reliance on academic, cultural, and creative content within educational and institutional settings highlights the need for legal, sustainable mechanisms to manage this access. Collective licensing, as administered by CopyGhana, addresses this need by allowing users—especially educational institutions—to access and reproduce copyrighted materials legally, while ensuring creators are fairly compensated.
Through blanket licensing agreements and institutional partnerships, CopyGhana facilitates equitable access to knowledge resources, particularly in universities and research institutions where photocopying, scanning, and digital reproduction are widespread. This mechanism protects rightsholders’ interests and promotes the responsible use of intellectual property, thereby supporting national goals in education, cultural enrichment, and innovation.
Furthermore, collective licensing contributes to cultural preservation by enabling broader access to Ghanaian literary works, safeguarding local content from unauthorized exploitation while increasing its circulation and relevance. In a knowledge-driven economy, empowering rightsholders and users through licensing is a strategic step toward national development.
2. Objectives of the Forum
• To raise awareness of the value and practical workings of collective licensing in Ghana.
• To demonstrate the role of copyright in fostering educational access, cultural sustainability, and national progress.
• To create a platform for open dialogue among rightsholders, users, policymakers, and civil society.
• To generate stakeholder support for copyright enforcement and institutional compliance.
• To promote policy alignment and strategic partnerships in support of Ghana’s intellectual property ecosystem.
3. Target Audience
• Authors, publishers, and visual artists
• Academic and administrative staff from tertiary institutions
• Legal experts and copyright consultants
• Relevant Sector Ministries (Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, Minstry of Tourism Arts and Culture, Ministry of Eduction)
• Government agencies (e.g., Creative Arts Agency, National Commission on Culture)
• Representatives of cultural institutions and non-governmental agencies
• Students, media professionals, and the general public
4. Expected Outcomes
• Improved understanding of collective licensing among institutional users and content creators.
• Stakeholder recommendations to inform upcoming copyright policy reforms.
• Increased visibility and appreciation of Ghanaian literary and cultural works.
5. Proposed Activities
• Keynote Address: Delivered by a Minister of State.
• Premiere of CopyGhana Documentary on collective licensing and enforcement of copyright law in Ghana.
• Panel Discussion: Featuring authors, university administrators, and policy experts on advancing copyright compliance.
• Interactive Session: “Building a Copyright-Respecting Campus Culture”
• Q&A and Stakeholder Dialogue: To surface challenges and propose collaborative solutions.
• Press Briefing on Challenges in Copyright Enforcement and steps to be taken by CopyGhana
6. Conclusion
The 2025 CopyGhana Sensitization Forum is a strategic platform to champion collective licensing as a catalyst for equitable access, cultural enrichment, and educational excellence. Through this event, CopyGhana seeks to reinforce a national commitment to copyright, not merely as a legal framework, but as a tool for empowering creators, enabling learners, and advancing Ghana’s development agenda. This forum also aligns with broader goals such as Ghana’s Copyright Modernization Strategy, the African Union's creative economy initiatives, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4 & SDG 9).
Click the link below to register:
https://forms.gle/xvzJ8MtngpjqqRp5A
