COPAG (Copyright Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan)

COPAG (Copyright Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan) is a government body responsible for implementing state policy on copyright and related rights in Azerbaijan. Established under presidential decree, it regulates and oversees intellectual property rights including copyright, related rights, expressions of Azerbaijani folklore, integrated circuit topographies, and databases. Unlike a traditional performing rights organization, COPAG functions as a regulatory and policy agency rather than a royalty collection society.

How COPAG Works

COPAG operates as a public law entity under the authority of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Its mandate, defined by the presidential decree of September 6, 2017 (number 1593), covers several areas:

1. Regulation and oversight: COPAG develops and enforces regulations governing copyright and related rights in Azerbaijan. This includes administering the Law on Copyright and Related Rights (originally enacted as Law No. 115-IQ of June 5, 1996, and amended through 2023).
2. Rights registration: COPAG maintains a database of registered works, allowing creators to formally document their copyright claims. The registration system operates through Azerbaijan's e-government portal.
3. Policy development: The agency drafts legislation, represents Azerbaijan in international intellectual property forums, and works to align national copyright law with international treaties including the Berne Convention and WIPO agreements.
4. Enforcement coordination: COPAG works with law enforcement and the Centre on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights to combat copyright infringement within Azerbaijan.
5. Folklore and traditional cultural expressions: COPAG has a specific mandate to protect expressions of Azerbaijani folklore, a function that many national copyright agencies do not directly handle.

It is important to understand that COPAG does not issue blanket licenses to music users or distribute royalties to songwriters. That function would fall under a collective management organization (CMO), which is a separate type of entity. Creators in Azerbaijan who need royalty collection services should look for CMOs that operate in the region or consider international societies with reciprocal agreements.

Real-World Example: Registering a Work in Azerbaijan

An Azerbaijani composer writes a new piece of music and wants to formally document their copyright. They access the registration service through the e-government portal (e-gov.az), submit details about the work (title, creation date, author information), and receive a registration record from COPAG.

This registration serves as supporting documentation if the composer ever needs to prove authorship in a legal dispute. For example, if another party claims ownership of the same composition, the COPAG registration timestamp and records can serve as evidence in Azerbaijani courts.

However, if that same composition is performed on Azerbaijani radio, COPAG does not collect a royalty on the composer's behalf. The composer would need to join a performing rights organization (either a domestic CMO if one exists, or an international PRO through reciprocal arrangements) to collect performance royalties.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a musician or composer based in Azerbaijan, COPAG is relevant to your career in specific ways:

• Copyright registration: While copyright exists automatically upon creation under Azerbaijani law, formal registration with COPAG provides documentary evidence of authorship. This can be useful in infringement disputes or when licensing your work to third parties.
• Legal framework awareness: COPAG administers the copyright laws that protect your musical works. Understanding the current legal framework (amended most recently in 2023) helps you know your rights regarding reproduction, distribution, public performance, and digital use of your music.
• International protection: Azerbaijan is a signatory to the Berne Convention, which means works created by Azerbaijani citizens receive copyright protection in all other Berne member countries. COPAG's international relations work helps maintain and expand these protections.
• Folklore protection: If you work with traditional Azerbaijani musical forms or folk melodies, COPAG's mandate to protect traditional cultural expressions may be directly relevant to how you can use and commercialize that material.

For royalty collection, research whether a CMO operates in your territory or consider joining an international PRO. Read our guide on how to register your music with a PRO and learn about music copyright basics to understand the difference between copyright registration and royalty collection.

Territory Covered

COPAG's jurisdiction covers the Republic of Azerbaijan. It administers copyright and related rights within Azerbaijani territory, including the registration of works created by Azerbaijani citizens and foreign creators seeking protection under Azerbaijani law. Azerbaijan's accession to the Berne Convention means that works protected by COPAG receive protection in all other Berne member countries, and foreign works receive protection in Azerbaijan.

How to Join and Membership Fees

COPAG is not a membership-based organization. It is a government regulatory agency, so there is no membership process or membership fee in the traditional PRO sense. Creators interact with COPAG primarily through work registration.

To register a work, creators use Azerbaijan's e-government portal (e-gov.az), submit details about the work (title, creation date, author information), and pay a state fee as determined by law. The initial charter fund of the agency is 1,000,000 manat. State fees for registration services are charged in amounts and regulations determined by Azerbaijani law.

For royalty collection (which COPAG does not handle), creators should join RAYS (Digital and Audiovisual Broadcasting Industry), the only accredited collective management organization in Azerbaijan. RAYS received its accreditation from the Intellectual Property Agency in March 2022 and is authorized to collect royalties when recorded music is played in public or broadcast on radio or TV. RAYS membership is separate from COPAG registration.

Overhead Rate

COPAG does not collect or distribute royalties, so an overhead rate in the PRO sense does not apply. The agency is funded through the state budget, state fees for registration services, grants, and other legally permitted sources. After paying taxes and other legally determined payments, the agency independently manages funds obtained through its activities.

For royalty collection through RAYS, administrative and operating costs are deducted before distribution to rights holders. The exact percentage is not publicly specified on RAYS's website, but distributions are made after these deductions are applied.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

COPAG does not distribute royalties. It is a regulatory and policy body, not a collection society.

RAYS, the separate CMO in Azerbaijan, distributes royalties received within a specific fiscal year to relevant performers and recording rights holders after deducting administrative and operating costs. RAYS uses IT systems to monitor recorded music played on radio, TV, and in the business sector, and distributes after verifying usage data through a double-checking system.

Reciprocal Agreements

COPAG itself does not maintain reciprocal agreements with foreign societies, as it is not a collection organization. However, Azerbaijan is a signatory to the Berne Convention and various WIPO treaties, which COPAG helps administer and enforce.

RAYS, the Azerbaijani CMO, has signed reciprocal agreements with foreign collective management organizations. In December 2023, RAYS signed an international agreement with PPL (UK), enabling PPL members to be paid for use of their work in Azerbaijan and RAYS members to earn royalties when their music is used in the UK. First payments from this agreement were expected from Spring 2024. RAYS states it has signed agreements with multiple foreign CMOs to represent Azerbaijani rights holders globally and to represent foreign neighboring rights holders in Azerbaijan.

Notable Members

COPAG is not a membership organization, but notable Azerbaijani composers and performers have registered works with the agency. These include:

• Tofig Guliyev (1917-2000): Composer, pianist, and conductor. Founder of Azerbaijani pop and jazz music. Chairperson of the Composers Union of Azerbaijan. His works have been registered with the agency.
• Elza Ibragimova (1938-2012): Composer and People's Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2008). Known for bringing tango rhythm into Azerbaijani variety art. Her heir's works were defended by the agency in a YouTube copyright dispute.
• Jahangir Jahangirov: Composer whose work "Zarif gulushlum" ("My Gentle Smile") was registered with the agency in December 1969 and later defended against Armenian plagiarism.
• Nushaba Muradova: Composer whose song "Intizar" was registered with the agency and defended against unauthorized use.
• Gular Gasanova: Composer whose "Yeni il mahnis" was registered with the agency in 2001.
• Shovkat Alakbarova: People's Artist of Azerbaijan, performer whose recordings are preserved in the Golden Fund of AzTV.
• Brilliant Dadashova: People's Artist, performer whose works have been defended by the agency.

Comparison Table

COPAG is a government copyright agency rather than a traditional PRO. The table below compares it with PROs and CMOs that Azerbaijani creators may encounter or consider joining.

Videos

Similar PROs

• RAO - Russian Authors' Society, collects royalties for composers and publishers in Russia
• GHamRO - Ghana Music Rights Organization, collects performance royalties for Ghanaian creators
• UCMR-ADA - Romanian Musical Union, manages performance rights for Romanian composers and publishers
• COTT - Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago, collects royalties for Caribbean creators

Related Terms

• Copyright - The legal right COPAG administers and protects
• PRO (Performance Rights Organization) - The type of organization that collects royalties (distinct from COPAG's regulatory role)
• CMO (Collective Management Organization) - Organizations that collect and distribute royalties, which COPAG regulates but does not replace
• Performance Royalties - Royalties that require a PRO or CMO to collect, not handled by COPAG directly
• Neighboring Rights - Rights of performers and producers that COPAG's legal framework also covers

Learn about all the royalties you should be collecting and explore our PRO comparison guide to find the right society for your needs.

Visit the COPAG website for registration services, legal texts, and contact information.