Artist`s works are private intellectual properties of the composers and authors; the public has the legal responsibility to respect copyright so as to promote creative industry.
We pay royalties to our members when their work is performed, broadcast, streamed, downloaded, reproduced, played in public or used in film and TV. We support them by influencing policy, supporting and hosting awards and events, and investing in new technology to ensure we’re fit for the digital music age.

The Rwandan Society of Authors (RSAU) was established by Rwandan Artists in the year 2010 with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) and the Rwandan Development Board (RDB) by virtue of the provisions of the Law N° 31/2009 of 26/10/2009 on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights on its Article 10 “administration of intellectual property”; article 11 “Responsibilities of the Ministry in charge of industry” and Article 12 “Responsibilities of the Ministry in charge of copyrights and cultural matters”

RSAU is a multidisciplinary society catering for all creators in Rwanda, irrespective of their specific fields.
As per Article 22 of the RSAU Constitution, RSAU shall accept as members with the right to vote and to be elected as members of its board of Management, persons who fulfill the following conditions:
Authors
National of Rwanda
Foreigners who have resided in Rwanda for at least 3 years
Members of existing associations of artists.

Mandators: Rwandans and foreigners who have mandated RSAU with the administration of their rights.
Performing Artists (Singers, Musicians, Dancers and Actors)
Publishers who have invested in Rwanda and those who have been employed in Rwanda for more than five years
Copyright owners and exclusive licensees
Producers of phonograms.
Rwanda is a member of the East African Community (EAC), African Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), a provisional member of CISAC(Confederation International des Sociétés d` Auteurs et Compositeurs) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and has ratified the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.

RSAU STRATEGIC DIRECTION

EDPRS II period is the time when the private sector is expected to take the driving seat in economic growth and poverty reduction, RSAU is the way of transforming the life of artists who their majority is the young population.

Vision

RSAU has a vision of achieving excellence in collective management; this inspires Board of Directors and Staff to give their best.

Mission

The main mission of RSAU is to collect and distribute the royalties for rights holders. The mission recognizes the customers served by the society, the benefits derived from RSAU’s operations and keys business activities.

Core values

The RSAU values constitute the internal compass that guides management and employee behavior and decisions. The expectations are that the management and employees must be seen to live and demonstrate these values. The Core values of RSAU are mentioned here bellow as follows:

• • accountability,
  • transparency,
  • integrity,
  • honesty,
  • taking responsibility,
  • innovation
  • Team work.

Those values are reinforced through assessment as part of the performance management system.