MACA and Sands China Sign Agreement to Support Copyrights

    (Macao, Oct. 23, 2014) – The agreement aims to protect the copyrights of all songwriters whose worksare played at Sands China’s properties, including atthe Cotai Arena, The Venetian Theatre, the lifts, gaming areas and restaurants.Witnessed by Chan Peng Fai, Deputy President of the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau,and Ana Lam I Na, Chief of the Judiciary Assistance Department of the Office of the Public Prosecutor General of Macao SAR, the signing ceremony took place at the Macao Creative Pavilionat the 19th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF).

As a long-time supporter ofthe local cultural and creative industries, Sands China understands the importance of copyright protection. The agreement with MACA is another way for Sands China to encourage the continued creation of music in Macao.

“Sands China is very proud to sign this music performance license agreement with MACA,” said Melina Leong, Senior Vice President of Public Relations and Community Affairs for Sands China Ltd.“Besides supporting the principle of copyright for all artists, the agreement isalso a great way to further promotecreative production in Macao. We hope it encourages local talent to compose new workwith the confidence that their copyrights will beprotected.Music is played throughoutour properties every day, and it’s important for us and for our visitors to know that copyrightsarebeing honoured.”

“Signing the agreement not only demonstrates Sands China’s support of the development of Macao’s local creative industry, but also protects the copyrights of both local and international artists,” said Ung Kuoc Iang, President of MACA. “It shows thatMacao has made another important step toward the appropriate protection of music copyright.”

The Macau Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers (MACA) is a collective management organisation established to exercise the rights of creators of musical works.  MACA is supportedby the International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies (CISAC), and has signed reciprocal agreements with more than 20 overseas musical societies covering five continents. Like CISAC, MACA is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation.

In addition to copyright management, MACA is actively promoting the importance of music copyrights and encouraging local talents to develop in relevant fields. On the World Intellectual Property Day this year, MACA held a public sharing session with musicians from Hong Kong and Macau. It also plans to hold a copy-right protection carnival end of this y ear again to raise the public awareness of MACA and music copyrights in Macao.

Ung Kuoc Iang, President of MACA, gave a speech at the signing ceremony.

Witnessed by Chan Peng Fai, Deputy President of the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau (left), and Ana Lam I Na, Chief of the Judiciary Assistance Department of the Office of the Public Prosecutor General of Macao SAR (right), Ung Kuoc Iang, President of MACA and Sands China Ltd. signed a music performance license agreement Thursday, Oct. 23 at a ceremony at The VenetianMacao.