What is a CMO?
A CMO is a collective management organisation. It manages copyright and related rights on behalf of multiple rights holders. Read on to learn more about the valuable function these organisations perform.
Why do CMOs exist?
CMOs provide a valuable service to rights holders of copyright protected works and people wishing to licence their work, by efficiently collecting and distributing royalties.
History
The first CMOs were established in the 19th century to help composers and writers manage their rights collectively, particularly for live performances and public broadcasts. They expanded to support other types of creators, including visual artists, as the reproduction and resale of artworks became more common across print, broadcast, and digital platforms.
How CMOs work today
Rights holders like artists, creatives and beneficiaries join a CMO as members and instruct it to license rights on their behalf. The CMO charges a fee for the licence, deducting an administrative charge from it before distributing the remainder as royalties.
Governance
CMOs are typically not for profit organisations, owned and controlled by their members. DACS, and other UK CMOs, are governed by the Collective Management of Copyright (EU Directive) Regulations 2016.
CMOs outside the UK
CMOs operate in countries around the world, serving creators within their region or art form. They often have reciprocal agreements with each other, this means royalties can be collected and distributed across borders.
For example, DACS operates in the UK, but works with other international CMOs to ensure UK artists are paid when their work is used abroad. These are known as our sister societies.