Belgian court to prosecute copyright distributor

After a three-year investigation, the court of Brussels has drawn some punishing conclusions on the functioning of Belgiums largest authors’ association, Sabam. The prosecutor reprimands Sabam for not distributing the rights correctly, for having a poorly structured internal organisation and for not reviewing its own functioning. Furthermore, the prosecutor states, after a thorough review of the organisation’s book-keeping, that Sabam the does not correctly transfer the funds it collects to rights owners. Considerable amounts would therefore have unjustly remained in Sabam’s own bank accounts. Authors have therefore not been remunerated properly in some cases. The lists of works of certain rights owners appeared to be incomplete, also causing improper remuneration. Furthermore, the annual account would have been misleading by creating a false impression of certain costs.

Sabam, as well as five of its former senior members of staff, will be prosecuted on the charges of forgery and abuse of trust.