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Unesco and EAC states meet in Dar copyright matters
2007-09-20 10:02:11
By David Mambo
Five East African states, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), are holding an anti-piracy meeting in Dar es Salaam geared at strengthening copyright and related rights` enforcement in the region.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, UNESCO programme specialist in culture, Time Curtis, said in recent years the digital revolution and effects of the ever-growing global markets had changed the landscape with regard to copyright protection.
Curtis added that there was a need for the EAC member states to focus on intellectual property by setting mechanisms to detect and prevent piracy.
``African countries suffer from high levels of interectual piracy in industrial and cultural products. Lack of adequate legislation and enforcement has detrimental consequences for the development of sustainable local industries,`` he added.
According to Curtis, recent increase in piracy cases within the region had forced UNESCO to engage in raising awareness on new issues affecting copyright by developing new initiatives.
``It is in this context that we are working to strengthen copyright and related rights’ enforcement in EA where piracy is rampant despite the existence of recent copyright legislation,`` he added.
A delegate from Kenya, Jimmi Makotsi, said rampant piracy and a low level of enforcement of copyright laws worked against the creation and distribution of local cultural products in the region.
Makotsi said not only did the vices mean missing economic opportunities for developing countries, but they also hindered the development of local industries contents, societal benefits, self esteem and positive identity.
``We need to work together to encourage creativity and to give local producers a fair chance to access the marketplace if we want to foster sustainable development to enhance the pride of EA in its cultural expression,`` he said.
Makotsi said there was need to maintain a balance between the interest of the producer and that of the general public to enable them gain access to knowledge and information.
``We want the governments to ensure that theft of one’s creation should be treated as such; piracy is theft not only of an individual’s product but, in the long term, results in the theft of a whole nation’s expression, `` he said.
The meeting has attracted top-level magistrates, customs officials, police officers and representatives from East African states.
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