PVPF 2024

Interview With Philippa Davies - Assistant General Manager, JAMCOPY

on Apr 07, 2022

An Attorney-at-law with diverse interests, Philippa's working experiences has taken her from customs litigation, international trade negotiations, itinerant theatre production, and Intellectual Property Rights to human rights advocacy.

Philippa is a self-published author and occasional newspaper columnist. She founded a mentorship programme for children in State care and is a former radio discussion show host and producer with TBC radio (The Breath of Change). Podcasts of past programmes can be heard at connectprayact.podomatic.com.

Philippa has also participated in sports and the performing arts, the Girl Guide movement, writing and delivering character education, and Christian dramatic presentations to children.

Specialties: Research/writing, Lecturing/Teaching, Media, Family policy advocacy, Intellectual Property, Scriptwriting, theatre production, Mentoring children.

Frontlist: How is the Jamaican Copyright Licensing Agency helping the publishing ecosystem combat piracy?

Philippa: Over the 24 years of its existence, the Jamaican Copyright Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY) has consistently undertaken public education, sensitization of users, licensees and prospective licensees on the importance of respecting copyright and related rights. Awareness activities have been carried out either solely or through cross-collaboration with other collective management organisations in Jamaica and the government IP office- the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office. JAMCOPY was a founding and active member of the Jamaica Anti-piracy Alliance (which is currently inactive).

Frontlist: Since you started your journey as an Assistant General Manager at JAMCOPY, what avenues have you seen this far in managing the worldwide repertoire of copyright content?

Philippa: JAMCOPY has done incredibly well so far, having licensed nearly 90% of the primary, secondary, and tertiary education sectors. Being able to offer a licence covering an international repertoire of works has been a major selling point for the licensing of this sector. Areas with growth potential include the licensing of digital content and corporate licensing.

Frontlist: The COVID-19 pandemic has been looked upon as a decisive moment for every industry sector. How did JAMCOPY bring back themselves from this downhill and also keep in mind the sheer digital transformation?

Philippa: Despite the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, JAMCOPY has managed to maintain collections and distribution. All eligible affiliates (nearly 800 creators and publishers) received their annual royalty distribution in December 2020 and 2021.

JAMCOPY also demonstrated sensitivity to the challenges facing institutions for the sudden and unexpected wholesale migration of teaching and learning to the online domain by granting a temporary extension of copying limits for licensees. This has been in effect since May 2020 and is due to expire at the end of April 2022 unless further extended.

JAMCOPY also hosted webinars in 2020 for authors and publishers on the experiences of counterparts in developed and developing countries who were participating in the digital transformation. Testimonials of emerging opportunities for smaller players in the market were also shared.

Frontlist: What is the most important obstacle that the Publishing Industry is facing to achieve copyright and licensing?

Philippa: Administrative and financial roadblocks in the licensing of major establishments.

Frontlist: On the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day, how are you conceiving the idea about enforcing the copyright in a more elucidated way that will lead to sustainability?

Philippa: Creators are more aware of their rights and the options for exploitation than twenty-four years ago when JAMCOPY first emerged, nevertheless more public education, especially via social media, is needed. Webinars and radio features, and now short videos are being utilised.

Without a doubt, the youth, the “digital born generation”, must be reached. This demographic is the focus of JAMCOPY’s contribution to IP week celebrations 2022. A short video competition for 13-18 years old is being organised by the three Jamaican CMOs. Entrants will have to provide a 3-5 minutes video presenting a solution, including licensing, to a given copyright problem. Other ideas for reaching the youth being explored are informational content in student-targeted publications (e.g., magazines and newspapers) and partnerships with school clubs based on copyright expressions (visual art and literary).

JAMCOPY will continue to play a lead role in public education, sensitisation, and awareness campaigns, on copyright and licensing.