The protection of the creative works of Tongan writers, artists and other creators was the focus of a two-days seminar that was held in Nuku'alofa from January 14-15.

Participants unanimously supported a conclusion that the only way for individuals in the core copyright industries to be able to protect their rights was to form an organization to "collectively administer" their rights.

Under the theme 'Copyright and Related Rights', the seminar brought to Tonga experts on copyright law from Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, to explain how Tongan writers, artists and musicians can protect  and earn financial rewards from their creations.

Tonga's Solicitor General, 'Aminiasi Kefu, spoke about a number of attempts by Tonga to enact a copyright law since the 1980s. A Tongan Copyright Act eventually came into force on 1 September 2008.

Copyright laws grant authors, artists and other creators protection for their literary and artistic creations.

Related Rights, on the other hand, protect the rights of performers, actors and musicians; producers of phonograms and broadcasting organizations in their radio and television programs.

However, the enforcement of Copyright and Related Rights as they are outlined in the Act puts the onus is on the artists and the musicians to take legal action against anyone who infringed their rights. It was realized that is a tough call for struggling Tongan artists and musicians who do not have the financial resources to take legal action.

Scott Morris, the director of International Cooperation, Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) spoke on the topic of 'Copyright and Related Rights for Writers, performers, broadcasters and other Creative Industries'. He outlined a solution for individual creators who were unable to enforce their rights. His organization APRA is an example of how the individual rights of members are collectively administered.

The concept of the Collective Administration of Rights appeared to be the way forward for Tongan writers, artists, musicians and broadcasters. At the end of the seminar there was  unanimous support for all copyright holders to form an organization with the objective to collectively administer members copyrights and related rights.

The presenters were: Mrs Gao Hang, Director  of the Copyright Development Division, World Intellectual Property Organization WIPO, Geneva, Switzerland; 'Aminiasi Kefu, Solicitor General, Office of the Attorney General, Tonga; Silke Radde, Manager, Intellectual Property Policy, Ministry 0f Economic Development, Wellington, New Zealand; Terence O'Neill-Joyce, Head, Copyright Enforcement Section, Fiji Intellectual Property Office FIPO, Suva, Fiji; and Scott Morris, Director, International Cooperation, Australasian Performing Rights Association APRA, Sydney, Australia.