THE Jamaican Copyright Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY) announced this week that it has signed licensing agreements with Trench Town Polytechnic College (TTPC) and the All American Institute of Medical Sciences (AAIMS).

The signing of the two has pushed to 30 the number of compliant institutions with JAMCOPY licensing agreements.

JAMCOPY is the national reproduction rights organisation and licensing body which authorises the reproduction of printed copyright material in accordance with the Jamaican Copyright Act, which specifically requires educational establishments to enter into licensing arrangements for the reproduction of copyright material for use in the teaching and learning process.

JAMCOPY, in a release, said while almost all tertiary institutions in Jamaica have negotiated licences with the agency, primary and secondary level schools have still not been authorised to make copies of copyright material. The Ministry of Education and JAMCOPY, the release said, have been in negotiations since 2005 for a licence to permit legal copying in primary and secondary schools.

“Without a licence, photocopying of copyright material in primary and secondary schools is illegal, an infringement of the rights of thousands of creators, many of whom are Jamaican educators themselves,” said Carol Newman, general manager of JAMCOPY.

“It is our fervent hope that in this new year, the Ministry of Education, Information and Youth will move speedily to positively close these protracted negotiations to ensure compliance with the copyright law in our public educational institutions,” said Newman.

JAMCOPY represents the interests of Jamaican creators and publishers of literary, artistic, musical, and dramatic works that are disseminated in print formats in Jamaica and the world. The works of Jamaican rights holders as well as rights holders from over 30 other countries, including the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia make up JAMCOPY’s growing repertoire.

Other tertiary institutions that have signed a JAMCOPY licence include: The University of the West Indies (Mona); University of Technology Jamaica; Northern Caribbean University; Jamaica Theological Seminary; Caribbean Graduate School of Theology; United Theological College of the West Indies; University College of the Caribbean; Mona School of Business; Edna Manley College; Mico University College; College of Insurance and Professional Studies; eight community colleges — Bethlehem Moravian College, Brown’s Town Community College, College of Agriculture, Science and Education, Excelsior Community College, Knox Community College, Moneague College, Montego Bay Community College and Portmore Community College; International University of the Caribbean; Church Teachers’ College; GC Foster College; Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College; St Joseph’s Teachers College; Catholic College of Mandeville; Sigma College of Nursing & Applied Science; Vector Technology Institute; and Gomex Technology Institute.