By Mulengera Reporters
Recently, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) hosted a training workshop for Ugandan creators of content at its head offices in Bugolobi. The content creators, whose numbers are greatly growing in Uganda every passing day were here to be tipped or inducted on the enabling law, information and insights they require to successfully placate their interest against piracy and copyright infringement by rogue-minded acted who like to rip them off.
The very interactive training session was enabled by the partnership UCC had with MultiChoice Uganda and Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB) which is charged with regulating and enforcement of the enjoyment of intellectual property rights. The trainees included content creators in areas like film, music and entertainment industry who were focused on pertinent issues that keep coming up in relation to piracy and copyright which many of them consider to be a very complicated subject.
Piracy is one of the biggest nightmares content creators have had to contend with over the years largely because of growing levels of internet penetration. Leveraging on the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act (2006) which has been in force for the last 15 years, different stakeholders have been trying their best to combat piracy and its negative effects for the industry.
The UCC training was also used to educate the stakeholders present about the dangers and legal implications of copyright infringement.
MultiChoice Uganda PR & Communications Manager Rinaldi Jamugisa was one of the speakers at the training workshop. Other speakers and facilitators included URSB’s Copyright and Neighboring Rights Manager Phillip Nyanja Kalibala and MMAKS Advocates lawyer Brian Kajubi who expounded on the legal framework of Intellectual property, copyright and Anti-Piracy in the grand scheme of things pertaining to fight against piracy.
“Copyright is about two things; seeking permission and saying thank you. You need to have an intellectual property policy to help you understand what kind of content belongs to which entity,” he observed. “Awareness and collaboration with associations will help you reap from your work and protect it from criminals.”
Manager Rinaldi Jamugisa saluted UCC for hosting the event and tasked filmmakers to objectively collaborate and support one another to minimize copyright infringement suits.
“We encourage you to form objective and mutually beneficial partnerships and collaborations while creating synergies that allow each of you involved in the creative process of the work to gain when you secure financing for your projects,” he alluded. “It is unprofessional to take advantage of one another in the form of copyright infringement in your submissions as this detracts potential financing partners.”
Nyanja Kalibala equally commended UCC for hosting the workshop and went on to explain the legal and commercial system in content creation while calling on content creators to deliberately acquaint themselves with the laws that govern their work so that they can benefit from it in the long run. “Commercialization starts with you and don’t leave your work to whom it may concern. Own and define it so that it is more valuable to you and you can reap from it.”
He further noted that content creators should be keen on not only looking at the monetary value of their work but also the protection of their ideas and work of art.
And this is how he pronounced himself on this point: “You need to be involved in the conversations pertaining to copyright and Intellectual Property especially in relation to government policy and any amendments to be made. As owners of content that is a target for infringement or piracy, you need to demonstrate interest through elaborate involvement in the enactment of the framework that is intended to help protect you and your creative works.”
Kalibala further identified the categories of rights enshrined in the content creators’ space and how best they can leverage them for the protection of their work and ensure fair financial benefit.
Brian Kajubi, an associate with MMAKS Advocates went on to expound on the legal framework of Intellectual Property, copyright and Anti-Piracy in the grand scheme of things pertaining to fight against piracy.
“Copyright is about two things; seeking permission and saying thank you. You need to have an intellectual property policy to help you understand what kind of content belongs to which entity. Awareness and collaboration with associations will help you reap from your work and protect it from criminals.” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [whatsapp line], 0779411734 & 0200900416 or email us at [email protected]).
