Copyright tribunal deals with two cases
5-Aug-2008 08:03 AM

THE Copyright Tribunal has given time until the end of the month to the Fiji Performing Rights Association, Australasian Performing Rights Association Ltd and Fiji Television Limited to conduct further negotiations on a fee agreeable to both parties.

This was one of two cases involving licensing that the tribunal deliberated on earlier last week.

In the orders of the tribunal, Chairman and Suva Magistrate, Ajmal Khan stated that the parties would attempt to negotiate a fresh fee payable under the licensing scheme by August 28, 2008.

However Khan said that the current scheme should remain in operation until the matter would be dealt with by the tribunal or unless otherwise agreed between the parties by the end of the month (August).

Meanwhile, in the second case heard by the tribunal on an application by Sohan Singh, the owner of the Macuata Theatre Company, who operates Diamond Theatre in Labasa, Khan abandoned and dismissed the matter.

The matter was adjourned to May 1 this year for hearing but 30 days was requested and given for Singh to appear.

A further extension was given for 30 days and the matter was adjourned to July 29.

However on July 29 neither the applicant nor his counsel appeared and neither was the applicant’s submission filed as ordered and since it was the third adjournment the application was deemed abandoned and dismissed.