A press release issued by CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), ICMP (International Confederation of Music Publishers) and IMPA (International Music Publishers Association). Paris, February 1st, 2008 - International organisations representing the interests of composers, authors, music publishers and their societies, CISAC, ICMP and IMPA are pleased to announce that this year’s MIDEM has presented the creative community with the ideal forum to continue their dialogue on cross-border copyright licensing arrangements for musical works. The aim of this informal dialogue was to explore the optimum ways of offering streamlined licensing solutions for relevant users against the background of various announcements which have been made by certain publishers and authors’ societies this week. Speaking on behalf of CISAC, its Director-General Mr Eric Baptiste stated: “Our discussions with our partners in the music publishing field is a reminder to us all that the music industry is the sum total of its component parts and that each of these parts has a key role to play in the effective development of the digital environment. We all have a single desire - namely to ensure that the music industry develops in a way which benefits the creative community as a whole – but also which serves the user’s needs. We are working with determination and in unison to give concrete effect to that single desire.” Speaking on behalf of ICMP, its Chairman Mr Kjell-Ake Hamren stated: “The creative community takes fully on board the plea from music service providers for copyright licensing arrangements to be based on simplicity of use. Our ultimate aim must naturally be to preserve the value of copyright, creativity and the world’s cultural industries. Nevertheless, music service providers should rest assured that the creative community will respond appropriately to relentless changes in the entertainment industry.” As MIDEM draws to a close, the work of the creative community continues. Societies, composers, authors and publishers remain committed to working jointly and constructively to ensure a streamlined service for users. Further meetings are planned to ensure that on-line licensing models are developed in a way which gives due regard, not just to the world’s rich cultural heritage, but also to the legitimate needs of a rapidly evolving marketplace. For more information: CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, aims at increasing the recognition and protection of creators’ rights worldwide. With 219 authors’ societies from 115 countries as its members, CISAC represents more than 2.5 million creators and publishers of all creative genres. www.cisac.org - Marianne Rollet - T.: +33 1 55 62 08 57 marianne.rollet@cisac.org ICMP/CIEM is the international umbrella trade association representing the interests of the music publishing community globally. ICMP/CIEM’s constituent members are national, regional and international music publishers’ associations in the world. www.icmp-cmp.org – Jenny Vacher – T.: + 32 2 280 39 95 IMPA, the International Music Publishers’ Association, is a trade association open to international music publishing groups and which currently represents the four major music publishing companies namely, EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner/Chappell Music.