The Algerian copyright agency, Office National des Droits d'Auteurs et des Droits Voisins (ONDA) says its fiscal 2004 ended with revenue exceeding DZD 366 million
Headed by CEO Hakim Toussar, ONDA generated that revenue after it began collecting the taxes on downloaded mobile phone ring tones. Toussar expects revenue from download to increase over time as the Algerian authorities implement new legislation and as relations with phone service providers are strengthened.
From the disbursement standpoint, details have not been provided except that some 2,658 authors of all categories have received copyright payments for their work. A total of 13,100 individuals, labeled by ONDA as artists are registered in the agency's database. ONDA is working to expand its scope of coverage beyond the art creators, to include producers as well.
ONDA currently sponsors some 67 arts related activities and workshops, including four theatrical pieces at the Bachtarzi National Theater and the amateur festival of Mostaganem, in addition to a combined DZD 26 million-prize money for various arts competitions such as the Moufdi Zakaria Maghreb poetry competition, the Malek Haddad literature prize, and the Asselah plastic arts reward.
In the area of anti-piracy enforcement, ONDA has seized more than 180,000 products considered illegal. ONDA has signed protection agreements with 35 foreign agencies to protect music and software work. It also has a cooperation deal with the global software lobby group Business Software Alliance (BSA), with BSA contributing to the training of specialists, the modernization of ONDA's IT infrastructure, while providing support in dealing with piracy cases. For its part, ONDA organized a series of gatherings and conferences on the issue of software piracy.
© The North Africa Journal 2005
