MUMBAI: CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) has revealed the initial lineup of speakers who will take the stage at the fourth biennial World Creators Summit, featuring keynotes from: Maria Pallante, US Register of Copyrights; John Morton, director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Scott Turow, a global best-selling author, lawyer, and president of The Authors’ Guild; Hervé Di Rosa, a visual artist and acting president of CISAC; and Jean-Michel Jarre, a world renowned composer and electronic music producer, and nominee for CISAC presidency.

In her keynote address, Pallante will explain the main points of her recently announced copyright overhaul plan, its likely implications for creators and creative businesses, and the long-term goals shaping her policies.

Morton will take a look at anti-piracy policies in his keynote, including the specific strategies put in place by the US administration to identify, track and take down organizations and individuals involved in the trading of illegal content.

Di Rosa, meanwhile, will use his keynote to highlight the role of creators in the digital era and examine what must be done to ensure that they will continue to have the freedom to create and make a living from their art.

Turow and Jarre are among the many authors and artists (such as Rick Carnes, Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation, Robert Levine, David Lowery, and Chris Ruen) invited to the Summit to discuss why creators need to stand up for their rights, unite, and promote a cause that they believe is just. Their keynotes will focus on how creators can promote respect for their works, achieve fair remuneration, and secure a guarantee for young creators of a future free of constraint and submission where they will have the freedom to pursue their art.

“A well-rounded and prestigious group of speakers, including many creators, will be able to speak in their own words about rights and respect, and provide solid guidance on the most important issues facing content creators today,” said Di Rosa. “We’re looking forward to bringing the community together during the two-day Summit in Washington, DC, learning from each other’s experiences and deciding on the best path forward.”

Kenth Muldin, CEO of STIM and chair of the CISAC Board of Directors, commented, “From copyright’s effect on innovation to direct licensing and business models for ebooks and films, we will be covering a wide range of topics at this year’s conference that have a direct effect on creators and the creative industries worldwide. And, of course, we will be looking at modern collective management of rights and why, in our view, it remains the most relevant system for both creators and users of creative content.”

Olivier Hinnewinkel, director general of CISAC, added: “We have an exciting line up for this year's Summit, which demonstrates just how important and topical copyright issues are these days. We are looking forward to lively and stimulating debates on market developments, the huge potential for creators from new digital services, and the important role of collective management organizations in the online world."

Featuring appearances from more than 80 of the biggest influencers and industry luminaries in the creator-rights space, speeches and panels will illustrate the major issues to be addressed at the Summit and contained in the event slogan “Create – Connect – Respect”:

• Creating and monetizing creative works in the digital era

• Cultivating a fair and sustainable environment for the creative sector

• Supporting innovation and digital growth with new solutions developed by collective management organizations and PROs

• The role of policy-makers and copyright legislation in supporting the digital development of the creative sector

• How to balance the protection of creators and consumers' access to works

Click here to see the list: