JAMCOPY makes tertiary-level writers' payout

Guest speaker at Tuesday's disbursement function by the Jamaican Copyright Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY), Professor Errol Miller, did triple duty. Twice he gave the main address in which he spoke to the development of tertiary-level academic writing in Jamaica and the region, and a gift to former JAMCOPY chair Shirley Carby. And once he received a cheque in JAMCOPY's first payout to writers whose work is utilised at the tertiary level.

Miller, along with a number of other persons from the pool of about 350 recipients in the disbursement, received his cheque with a smile. It was a different kind of reward than accustomed for his writing. Previously, Miller said, the major benefit was that for two decades he did not buy a plane ticket as persons invited him to often unexpected places. Also, he bought a car with one writing commission.

"I drove the book!" Miller said.

There was also "contrition and confession", as Miller said that in the "old days" teachers allowed copyright material to be photocopied, intending to reduce the cost to students. "I never thought about the authors of these creations," he said.

That once common practice at tertiary-level institutions should now be vastly reduced, JAMCOPY chairman Mark Thomas naming a number of schools which have signed on to the organisation's requirements. "This is the first disbursement of royalties from the university licences," Thomas said, the funds having been collected between 2008 and 2010. With the added incentive of the money to be earned, Thomas urged all in what he termed "a wonderful turnout of the creative community in Jamaica to "create, create, create" and "publish, publish, publish".

And he pledged "your individual rights to benefit from the fruit of your creative imagination and intellect are protected". About $13 million is to be distributed in this initial payout.

There was a handover of another kind as, in its 13th year of operation, JAMCOPY publicly acknowledged former chair Shirley Carby, Miller handing over artwork on the oganisation's behalf. "Today marks the beginning of the next stage in JAMCOPY's life," Carby said. "This is the first time that we have done it on a title specific basis."

She said that for the past two years she had been insisting that JAMCOPY do a formal distribution ceremony and "today it will be done".

"This exquisite gift is the icing on the cake," Carby said.

There were thanks to Access Copyright from Canada, Denise Simpson and Winston 'Bello' Bell delivered spoken word pieces - Bello adding song in an ode to the Ganja Tree - and Omaro Mazlyn filling the room with the sound of drums.