Nigeria: COSON updates royalty monitoring and distribution system

This was confirmed by the collective management organisation at a 30 July meeting held in Lagos, which was chaired by the head of the COSON board, Tony Okoroji.

The COSIS installation comes four months after the board tasked COSON's management with updating the society’s royalty infrastructure. It is also in line with the organisation’s focus on the protection of the rights of its members worldwide, a resolve it has promised since it commenced operations in 2014.

According to a statement, virtual training of personnel to manage the system is currently ongoing through the Swiss software supplier.

Additionally, the installation of Roy Admin, a programme that will expedite licensing and management of sound recordings and distribution, is expected to commence soon, following which “COSON House will have the most modern copyright royalty monitoring and distribution system in the continent,” it said.

The meeting – attended by COSON general manager Bernice Eriemeghe, deputy general manager Vincent Adawaisi, COSON lawyer James Ononiwu of WhiteDove Solicitors and board members from across Nigeria – also saw the board presented with report on the disbursement of 72.5 million naira ($185 000) earmarked for COSON's members nationwide in order to reduce the financial burden during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the board has slated its annual general meeting, which is traditionally held in May, for 12 November at COSON House in Lagos “with the expectation that the restriction on large gatherings of people will have been lifted by then.”

Although a virtual AGM was considered earlier, it was abandoned due to the board’s fear that it “will deny a large majority of the members who may wish to participate in the AGM the opportunity to do so.”