1. Commission on Combatting Copyright Infringements

Turkish Publishers’ Association carried out significant activities with a view to strengthen intellectual property law, defend the financial rights of our publishers in accordance with laws, to follow-up on intellectual property rights, to ensure collective follow-up, collection and just distribution of rights and to prevent infringements of copyrights. TPA effectively combats the infringement of copyrights of works that we are entitled to represent.

In addition to street vendors and shops selling pirated books, the Commission works towards identification of pirated digital copies sold on the Internet. Applications are submitted to bar access to or suspend websites involved in selling pirated books or other infringements of a similar kind.

The Commission also effectively combats publishers, duplicators, storers and sellers of pirated original copies, plagiarisms and pirated translations. The Commission also works on issues including digital rights, databases, e-piracy, infringement of rights, management of collective infringement of digital rights, etc.

Through all these efforts, we aim to protect the rights of authors, translators, painters, copyright agencies, editors as well as publishing houses and bookshops, which invest a considerable amount of capital for distribution and sale of original copies to consumers. Combatting distribution of pirated copies contributes to national economy, too, as it effectively prevents informal economy. In this way, new cultural products can be placed on the market and Turkey can take sound steps in its ambition to become a leading actor in world publication sector. Additionally, thanks to raids and subsequent checks, producers, distributers and sellers of pirated copies are deterred and discouraged from committing criminal activities. In this way, we also help law enforcement and judiciary by lessening their burden.

2. Member Relations Commission

This Commission is responsible for paying periodical visits to members, discussing their problems, exchanging ideas and providing solutions to problems with a view to develop member relations. The Commission also ensures coordination among members and acts as intermediator as needed.

3. International Relations Commission

To develop relations with professional organizations in different countries, to sign reciprocity agreements and goodwill protocols, to support publishers wishing to sell their copyrights to international buyers, to work towards strengthening Turkey’s position as an international copyrights market, to contribute to bilateral relations through organization of fellowship programmes for international publishers.

4. Resource Development and Finance Commission

This Commission is responsible from designing and implementing projects to benefit from national and international funds as well as organizing social activities for the members with a view to generating more income for the Association.

5. Research & Development Commission

This Commission is responsible from following up and supporting the latest academic output on issues concerning our sector. The Commission also informs the members about these outputs with a view to increase their awareness and inform the public. In addition to these, this commission implements comprehensible projects targeting creation of a culture of copyright and reading; shares information on national and international copyright fairs; and encourages and guides the members to attend these fairs.

6. Press and Public Relations Commission

This Commission is responsible from advertisement, collection of information on national or international organizations fighting piracy and sharing this information with the members, preparation of press bulletins and press releases as well as informing the members and the public regarding the latest developments with the intent of increasing awareness on copyrights as well as informing the public on infringement of copyrights.

7. Copyrights and Licencing Commission

This Commission works towards creating a culture and awareness of copyrights in the society. The commission protects the rights of members to the greatest extent by preparing, updating and renewind copyrights agreements as needed. In order to increase awareness on copyrights and prevention of theft, this commission works in close cooperation with the Commission on Combatting Copyright Infringement. This Commission;

• Conducts activities in primary and secondary schoolds with a view to increase awareness of copyrights,

• Organizes public seminars and panels with the participation of senior judicial members, academics and law specialists working in the field of copyrights,

• Circulates information notes to educational institutions including private teaching institutions, public schools, universities, private schools, etc. to prevent piracy through duplication,

• Offers training for printing houses on what to pay attention to when placing banderols on publications,

• In order successfully combat copyright infringement, offers on-the-job trainings to judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officials and experts working in specialized courts and organizes meetings to discuss current issues and problems,

• In order to raise awareness in society, publishes and distributes posters, brochures, stickers, bookmarks, bags, notebooks, etc. with a strong message of ‘no to piracy’.

• Informs the public by means of banners, short movies on billboards, subway advertisements, national newspapers and magazines, online book sellers, etc. that copyright is a right, whereas piracy is an infringement of this right. Thanks to the works carried out by the Commission, the ratio of sale of pirated books decreases. In addition, more piracy cases are reported and prosecuted.

               
Among other significant tasks of the Commission are supporting the legislative works on licencing scientific and literary works, contributing to and lobbying for creation of technical infrastructure, preparation of tariffs, to update circulars on revenue sharing, signing contracts with users, collection of revenues, distribution of revenues to the members in a transparent and just manner in accordance with objective criteria.