Initiative: Express Autor
Institution: National Institute of Copyright
Problem: The National Institute of Copyright, a decentralized organ of the Secretary of Public Education of Mexico, is responsible for promoting creativity through protecting and strengthening copyright and monitoring the Public Registry of Copyright. The Public Registry of Copyright has a direct impact on publishing, music, film, record, radio, and other industries. It also helps users through the copy right registration process. In the past, registering artistic works was lengthy and costly process. The problem was exacerbated with increased demands, especially in the case of people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, children, and people from indigenous communities whose mother tongue was not Spanish. Authors who are foreign national had to present the corresponding migratory documentation to legally certify their stay in the country first to register. The time taken to register the work caused problems for the participants who needed the certificate of registration in order to obtain a scholarship. The process was so lengthy, many would-be-students only received the certification after the scholarship deadline. The lack of human resources and the limited availability of technological tools were challenge for the institution: how could the Public Registry Office respond to the situation better and more efficiently?
Solution: The General Directorate of Inautor originated the proposal on: how to improve the provision of the public services it offers to better meet the needs of users. Keeping in mind the issue of timeliness and the importance of creativity, strategic actions were implemented to grant users the Certificate of Work Registry on the same day of registration. This service is provided in seven stages: 1. Information module: advises, reviews and provides the corresponding forms. 2. Reception of request: once the requirements are met, the author must deliver the documents and the work in the exclusive window for Express Autor at a time from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 3. Form and fund opinion: includes the study of the application and its documentation to determine the origin of the work record. 4. Data capture and integration of the file: the data of the application and the corresponding resolution are entered in the system called SINDAUTOR, which contains the recorded information issued by the Institute. 5. File creation: the file is integrated with the documentation presented and the printing of the Certificate of Work Registry. The official seal is stamped and the identification label containing the registration data is placed. 6. Authorization and signature of the certificate: the file is reviewed, and its authorization is processed. 7. Delivery of the certificate: the corresponding certificate must be picked up between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the same day.
Impact: The Express Autor service has strongly ameliorated the Directorate of the Public Registry of Copyright’s reputation and relationship with its users. Positive impacts were: (i) responding to users’ requests on the same day, (ii) the cost of service that is equal to normal processing, (iii) the immediate reception of the applications submitted and (iv) the inhibition of corruption as it is a service provided directly to the author and creator. Institutional benefits were: (i) the increase in the number of applications and consequently the increase in income, generated by the payment of rights and (ii) a better distribution of the workload.