How do the Copyright (Collective Management Organisations) Regulations 2023 help to provide transparency before I sign up as a member of the CMO?
CMOs are required to set up a public website where they must publish information and documents such as its membership application process, membership fees, application forms, application timelines, and its internal policies (Division 8, Part 3 of the Regulations). These are meant to help potential members to make an informed decision before joining the CMO.
Furthermore, before a potential member enters into an arrangement with a CMO for the member’s portfolio to be managed exclusively by the CMO, the CMO must explain in writing to the member that the member has the option of entering into a membership agreement that is non-exclusive but otherwise on the same terms, and the consequences of entering into an exclusive membership agreement with the CMO (Regulation 6).