The Copy Right Tribunal has for the first time been called upon to resolve a dispute over a licensing agreement between the Fiji Performing Rights Association and Fiji Television Limited.

The Performing Rights Association and Fiji TV entered into an agreement in July 2000 for the use of any productions or musicals by members of the Association which initially was a payment of 0.4 percent of Fiji TV's gross advertising revenue and gross subscription revenue. This was to increase annually by 0.025 percent till to date.

Chairman of the Tribunal Magistrate Ajmal Gulab Khan confirmed to Fijivillage that Fiji Performing Rights Association has lodged the dispute after Fiji TV requested that the payment rate under the agreement be lowered, which is also a condition for entering into a new license agreement for its subsidiary company in Papua New Guinea.

Khan said the Association maintains that the existing licensing scheme reflects reasonably negotiated terms and that the Copy Right Tribunal makes an order confirming the current scheme.

The Chairman confirms that Fiji TV and the Performing Rights Association have been given time till August 28th to try and reach an agreement on the matter, failing which the Tribunal will hear submissions from both parties before deliberating on the matter.