AAPA Rules and Procedures

The Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) is established in the UK as a company limited by guarantee.

AAPA publishes and maintains a set of principles, which all its members support.

Council

The Council shall be the principal body of AAPA. Each member may nominate one representative to the Council although meetings shall be open to all representatives of members.

All members shall receive at least one week's notice of any Council meeting. Meetings may occur face-to-face or by conference call.

The Council may delegate powers to individuals and sub-groups as it sees fit.

President and Vice Presidents

The Council may elect Co-Presidents

The Co-Presidents shall serve for a renewable term of two years unless they earlier resign or are removed by the Council. 

The Council may appoint one or more Vice Presidents(s). Any Vice President shall serve for a renewable term of two years unless he/she earlier resigns or is removed by the Council.

Management Group

A Management Group comprising the Co-Presidents and Executive Vice President shall be responsible for the day-to-day operation of AAPA. The Management Group shall be responsible on an operational basis for financial management, banking, accounting, insurance, etc., including the appointment of the accountant. Where necessary, the Management Group shall exercise all the powers of the Council between meetings and shall report their activities at each meeting.

Executive Vice President

AAPA may appoint an Executive Vice President. The Executive Vice President will be responsible to the Council for the execution of decisions and delegated matters.

Members shall meet in an Annual General Meeting (AGM) once a year. All members may send representatives to the AGM. Each member will have one vote which may be given by proxy to another member or the Executive Vice President.

The AGM shall, upon a recommendation from the Management Group, agree the budget and fee for the coming year and shall agree also the strategy, policy and priorities for AAPA.

The AGM shall adopt the accounts of AAPA and recommend their approval to the Management Group.

 

AAPA will normally proceed by consensus. However, where decisions are required 60% of members must be present or be represented by proxy. A majority requires 60% of those present to vote in favour of any motion

In the event that a member no longer wishes to be in AAPA it may resign by e-mail to the Executive Vice President.

In the event that a member seems no longer to be able to support the AAPA principles then the Council may ask, but not require, them to leave the organisation. If such a member declines to leave then they may be expelled from AAPA.

For membership applications those members present at the applicant’s presentation will be invited to express a view following the presentation on whether the application should proceed to a vote. If the collective view is positive all members will be invited to vote within two weeks, which may be extended during holiday periods or where further discussion is required by members. For an application to be approved 75% of all members must vote and 75% of these must vote in favour.

AAPA welcomes applications from companies which are actively involved in the fight against audiovisual piracy. Trade associations are not able to be members of AAPA.

AAPA shall not take any public position if more than two members object. Any member shall have the right to be disassociated from any public position that it objects to by requesting this before the position is taken.

 

Fee

An annual fee shall be payable promptly by all members of AAPA. The level of the fee shall be set by the Council. The Council may choose to apply different fee levels to different members.

In the event of any member leaving AAPA during the year no repayment shall be due.

If a member does not pay the fees due to AAPA within 90 days of the date of the invoice, it will receive a reminder that payment must be made within 14 days. Failure to pay within this further 14 days will result in notice of suspension, with suspension taking place after 14 days. The member shall remain suspended until the fee is paid. The Management Group shall take the final decision, having informed the Council in advance.