This section provides a background and description of how CLA is governed, managed and operated. It also includes profiles of the current CLA board directors.
Introduction
Corporate governance is a term used to describe the system by which a company is directed and controlled.
Governance of a company is the responsibility of the board of directors and this includes setting strategic aims, providing leadership, supervising the management of the business and reporting to shareholders on their stewardship. Directors also have legal responsibilities defined under the Companies Act.
The role of executive and senior management is to carry out those aims.
Good governance is important in providing a strong framework of focus and accountability that enables a company to perform effectively.
The Board of CLA recognises that good governance helps the business to deliver strategy, generate value and safeguarding stakeholders long-term interests and we are committed to the highest standards of corporate governance. The Board considers that CLA complied in all respects with the practice of good governance required by a company of its form and standing.
CLA's legal status
The Copyright Licensing Agency Limited (CLA) is a private company limited by guarantee.
As such, CLA has no share capital or shareholders but has two members, the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society Ltd. (ALCS) and the Publishers' Licensing Society Ltd. (PLS), who are joint owners.
To enable CLA to operate, ALCS and PLS have granted the rights to CLA to issue licences permitting copying from books, journals, magazines and digital material published in the UK.
A series of international repertoire exchange agreements with equivalent organisations in other countries gives CLA similar authority for overseas publications.
An agency agreement with the Design and Artists Copyright Society Ltd. (DACS) means CLA are able to include in its licences, artistic works that are contained within books, journals and magazines that are copied.
CLA should be considered a "Licensing Body" for the purposes of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is the promoter of various "Licensing Schemes" as defined in the Act.
To read about CLA's governance process please click the links below or use the 'Governance menu' on the left.
CLA board - its responsibilities and profiles of the directors
