BLACA is the British Branch of the Association Littéraire et Artistique Nationale (ALAI) whose principal objects are:

• the maintenance of legal principles ensuring international protection of copyright, the study and comparison of national copyright legislations and the study of projects tending to develop, perfect and unify these legislations and those designed to ensure the recognition and legal protection of copyright in all countries; and
   
• the improvement and extension of international conventions relating to copyright and the study of measures intended to establish or modify copyright or rights related to copyright.
   

BLACA is the UK national group of the International Literary and Artistic Association (ALAI) founded in Paris in 1878 under the Presidency of Victor Hugo. Since its foundation in 1981 it has provided a forum for discussion of matters affecting the rights of authors and other copyright owners. Its members are mostly practising or academic lawyers and others interested in upholding the principles of copyright. Its objects and constitution are set out in its Rules.

It holds regular short seminars on current issues, normally on the second Thursday of alternate months (subject to speakers' availability) at the offices of Berwin Leighton Paisner (Adelaide House, London Bridge, London EC4R 9HA). Drinks are served from 5.45pm and the meetings usually end at about 7.15pm. From time to time longer seminars (half-day) are organised in conjunction with the Intellectual Property Institute (formerly CLIP).

Subjects dealt with at the regular seminars over recent years have included: authors' moral rights; the Copyright Tribunal; the Copyright Directive; reports on WIPO developments; US legislation and the philosophical basis of intellectual property. In addition extended joint seminars have covered rental and lending rights; satellite broadcasting in cable retransmissions; the problems of copyright and related rights in the EU; and the Statutory Instruments implementing the various EU directives.

BLACA is run by its Executive Committee which is elected by the members for a two-year term at a Biennial General Meeting.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Simon Clark: Secretary BLACA
Berwin Leighton Paisner
Adelaide House
London Bridge
London EC4R 9HA

E-mail: Simon.Clark@blplaw.com

page last amended: 24 Sep 2008