How to Join

Membership Categories


Organisations may apply for status as RRO Members, Associate RRO Members, Provisional RRO Members and Creator or Publisher Association Members.

RRO Members

The RRO Members are national Reproduction Rights Organisations that are legal entities lawfully constituted according to the laws and usages of their country of origin. The RRO Members manage reproduction rights and other relevant rights in copyright works with regard to users, in the interest of authors and publishers and with both categories of rightholders represented on their governing bodies.

Associate RRO Members

The Associate RRO Members are national Reproduction Rights Organisations that are legal entities lawfully constituted according to the laws and usages of their country of origin. The Associate RRO Members, either:
  • manage reproduction rights and other relevant rights in copyright works with regard to users, in the interest of rightholders, but have only one of the categories of rightholders (authors or publishers) represented on their governing bodies; or
  • collect remuneration for the use of rights without being actively engaged in the licensing of such rights.

Provisional RRO Members

The Provisional RRO Members are national Reproduction Rights Organisations that are legal entities lawfully constituted according to the laws and usages of their country of origin. The Provisional RRO Members manage reproduction rights and other relevant rights in copyright works but have not yet started.

Creator or Publisher Association Members

The Creator or Publisher Association Members are non-governmental national and international organisations of authors and/or publishers that are legal entities lawfully constituted according to the laws and usages of their country of origin. These Members work actively for the respect,promotion management of reproduction rights and other relevant rights in copyright works, including through RROs formed in the interest of authors and publishers.

IFRRO Creator and Publisher Association Members include :
  • Visual Arts CMOs
  • Authors Associations
  • Publishers Associations
  • International Associations

The fee structure for each grouping of members is determined by an Annual General Meeting and are reflected in the Internal Rules.

Organisations considering membership may be invited as observers by the Board of Directors to attend IFRRO Meetings.

Individuals or organisations may be invited as guests by the Board of Directors in consultation with the RRO of the country where the IFRRO Meeting is to be held.



 

Conditions


Conditions for RRO and Associate membership may be found in article 4 of the attached Ifrro Statutes.

If applying for the full RRO membership , organisations shall have to provide the IF RRO Secretariat with the following:
  • A copy of your organisation's by-laws in English
  • A copy of the mandate/authorisation whereby authors and publishers transfer the control of reprographic rights to your organisation
  • Any other material which you consider may be helpful

If applying for Associate membership, organisations shall have to provide the IF RRO Secretariat with a copy of their statutes, or at least an English translation of the most relevant articles of their statutes along with any other material which they may consider helpful.

Conditions for RRO and Associate membership may be found in article 4 of the attached Ifrro Statutes.

Applicants must meet the criteria for the category of membership they are applying for. Applicants are asked to indicate in their Membership Application Form the grouping and band into which they fall for the calculation of their membership dues.

The fee structure for each grouping of members is also reflected in the Internal Rules. 


 

Benefits of Membership


IFRRO is the leading body on an international level that fosters and provides information on reproduction rights and the collective management of such rights in the text and image sector.

It is a co-operation partner for international intergovernmental bodies and organisations, including peak bodies such as UNESCO and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) with which IFRRO enjoys NGO status and has a cooperation agreement on copyright awareness and enforcement and the building of collective management structures.

IFRRO also works with other regional intergovernmental groups such as the European Union, CERLALC, ARIPO, OAPI, and SADC. In its field, IFRRO also provides information to national stakeholders and governments. This enables IFRRO to influence the development of national legislation and the establishment of rights holder associations as well as collective management organisations worldwide.

RRO membership in IFRRO therefore provides:
  • International recognition and standing. Being a member of IFRRO means that the international community of RROs and rightsholders associations recognise the RRO. This leads to increased legitimacy to the work of the RRO, both nationally and internationally.
  • International repertoire of works and rights. RROs in membership of IFRRO enter into bilateral and multilateral arrangements with each other. This enables them to administer the rights of foreign rightsholders and offer users access to a more complete portfolio of works. At the same time it ensures the administration, protection and collection of revenues by effective and efficient licensing bodies when the works represented are used abroad.
  • Conferences and Training. IFRRO offers in numerous workshops and other activities in the copyright field. In this context IFRRO is also a link into co-operation with peak bodies such as WIPO and UNESCO on training and education of RRO personnel.
  • IFRRO Project loans. IFRRO members may, on the basis of a business plan apply for loans to establish their licensing activities.

IFRRO membership also provides access to:
  • Global network. IFRRO enables enables its members, RROS and also author and publisher associations to connect, network, to share information and collaborate. Through participation in its various regional committees, technical working groups and fora, IFRRO members are kept informed of and participate in key developments in the area.
  • Partnerships. IFRRO cooperates with partners active in intellectual property and copyright such as intergovernmental bodies and international federations in the field of copyright. These activities often also involve the cooperation of local and national IFRRO Member organisations.
  • Information Services. The IFRRO website and intranet provide useful information such as newsletters, manuals, model contracts, publications and studies containing information and resources.
  • Local support. IFRRO can be a source of information, advice and support for members on national issues. On request it provides expertise to its members and their governments influences national legislation.



 

Procedure


The following procedure shall apply for considering applications for IFRRO Membership:
 
  1. The Applicant shall contact the IFRRO Secretariat (secretariat@ifrro.org) in order to get an Application Form;
  2. The Applicant shall submit the Membership Application Form to the IFRRO Secretariat preferably by email;
  3. The IFRRO Secretariat examines whether the supporting documents are all correct and included and advises the applicant accordingly;
  4. The IFRRO Membership Committee examines the application and makes a recommendation to the IFRRO Board;
  5. The IFRRO Board makes a decision on whether to approve the application and if so in which category of membership.