Valdeen Shears-Neptune
The Copyright Organisation of T&T (COTT) says it is unable to pay royalties to artistes whose music is played in movies because of unpaid licence fees from T&T’s two major cineplexes
This in response to two of COTT’s members — Dennis “Juvenist” Gilbert and Carey Rawlins — who are claiming the organisation failed to represent them in a battle to collect unpaid monies from the local movie, titled I am Santana: The Movie.
COTT’s CEO, Josh Rudder said: “Any royalties generated from the use of music in the Santana movie will be generated from the licence fees paid to COTT by the cinemas in T&T.
“As it currently stands, the two main cinema multiplexes within T&T have not been paying licence fees to COTT.
“While COTT has been rigorously pursuing the licensing of these venues they remain non-compliant and as such our organisation will be seeking legal guidance as to our next steps.”
Gilbert and Rawlins claimed they signed a contract with Ian Pantin of IP International Music/LEXO TV and their work was used in both an album compilation as well as the movie.
Dereck Chin, chairman of the three MovieTowne cineplexes, directed the T&T Guardian to its marketing manager who asked that she not be identified. She said on-going discussions with COTT remained unresolved.
The manager noted that their establishment bought the rights to movies, which were pretty all-inclusive, directly from Hollywood. The rights to use local movies were authorised through their producers and distributors, she added.
“What COTT is asking us to do is after we have paid high sums to Mr Hollywood to collect a percentage of monies from movie tickets which they claim will be paid to production within our movies.
“It’s like paying twice. Truth is if we weren’t paying what we are supposed to Hollywood for the rights to movies then they would not release, authorise and grant us the keys to play them,” the manager said.
Calls to the mobiles of Ian Pantin and Roger Alexis, creator of the Santana series, went unanswered.
In COTT’s further defence, Rudder noted that matters surrounding sales and distribution of movies and song recordings were not under COTT representation or mandate.
“This matter with Mr Gilbert and other parties was brought to COTT’s attention some time ago when he came to COTT regarding unpaid monies to him by the producers of the Santana movie.
“He (Mr Gilbert) indicated he had entered into an agreement with the producers of the movie Santana. He also stated the producers did not honour this agreement which from his indication was specific to sales and distribution of the movie,” he said.
COTT, he said, had since “reached out to the producers of the Santana movie and its producers confirmed entering into a contract with the disgruntled duo.”
He said they have yet to see a signed agreement by both parties.
With regard to possible litigation, COTT said it remained open to discuss the details of that with any attorney where necessary.
The men also claimed their music was being used outside of the country and COTT had failed to seek their interest. Rudder, however, assured that monies for music used abroad was monitored by its sister societies with whom it has reciprocal agreements.