Senior Cameroon Culture minister, Ferdinand Léopold Oyono, has signed a new batch of legislation governing royalties and intellectual property. The 40 new laws were proposed by the Standing Committee of Mediation and Control of the Bodies of Collective Management of Royalties and Related Rights this June and, now formalised, will guide the distribution of payments pertaining to cultural IP across the country. National Authors’ Associations and others intellectual property stakeholders had engaged in lengthy discussion prior to the introduction of the new legislation. The laws are seen as a ‘new start’ for the management of royalties in Cameroon, where concerns over IP abuses have long plagued authorities. Under the new laws, users are obliged to pay royalties to the Author’s Associations, which will then facilitate the return of rightful funds to artists. Royalty rates will be divided into categories of disciplines, i.e musicians, painters, photographers, writers, scenario writers, or graphic designers. The spectrum of royalty rates will be in effect from August 6, 2004 for a period of three years. For further information in French, CLICK HERE.