The Attorney General led Interim Copyright management Team (ICMT) overseeing the operations of the Copyright Society of Ghana (GOSGA) has warned recalcitrant users of copyright, musical and other works to pay their licence fees or face prosecution in court, as non-payment constitutes copyright theft. It is also unethical.
In an interview with Mr. Carlos Sakyi and popular musician, Amandzeba, spokes- persons of the group, the ICMT stated it would not hesitate to apply the law against users whose lack of the respect for intellectual property continues to impoverish creative artistes. Legal remedies for public performance of works without authorization include both criminal and civil penalties.
They said users include radio and TV stations, spinners, hotels, restaurants, night clubs, shopping malls, internet cafes, webcasters, banks, photocopy operators, video centres, etc; businesses that use copyright works to enhance their profitability, and that copyright fees owed by users are in the millions of cedis (billions of old cedis).
According to the spokes-persons, copyright laws protect owners of works by granting them exclusive rights, and ensuring payment when their creations are used. Key among them is the public performance right, a major source of revenue for creators.
Since it inauguration by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, the ICMT has held meetings with music user associations including GIBA (Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association), GBC, Spinners and Ghana Hotels Association, reminding them of the value of music to their operations and the legal requirement to pay for the right to use it.
The ICMT, currently prosecuting a national copyright sensitization agenda, commended all responsible users for consistently paying their licence fees but warned that irresponsible law-breakers will not be spared.
The ICMT’s operations fall under Copyright (Amendment) Act 788, with powers granted to the Minister of Justice to adopt measures to ensure creators are protected and royalties collected and distributed.
Members of the ICMT are Carlos Sakyi, Amandzeba, Mark Okraku Mantey, K.K. Kobobo (Musical Rights); Stanly S.S. Sackey, Nill Odoi-Mensah, Richard Quartey (Audio Visual Rights); Asare konadu Yamoah, Betty Boateng, Dr. Kwasi Annoh (Literary Rights); Lawyers Ohene Obeng (Deputy Registrar-General and official liquidator of COSGA) and Yaa Attafua, (Principal State Attorney, Copyright Office).
