Ethiopia: Artists Voice Anger Over 'Impracticality' of Copy Right LawEthiopia: Artists Voice Anger O

Ethiopia: Artists Voice Anger Over 'Impracticality' of Copy Right Law

The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa)

April 24, 2007
Posted to the web April 24, 2007

Yonas Abiye
Addis Ababa

Hundreds of artists, publishers and producers of Ethiopian music on Monday staged an unprecedented demonstration to complain over the ineffectiveness of copyright law and push for measures against fraudulent activities on their rights and privileges.

The demonstration which included veteran artists, the likes of Mahmud Ahmed, initially started to mark World Intellectual Property Day, before the artists made their way towards the Ethiopian Parliament building and shouting slogans as "We urge immediate justice for our right." Artist Aregahagn Worash, coordinator of the demonstration and Board Member of Ethiopian Musician Association, said the aim of the demonstration was to speak out "our grief and concern over illegal copy right of our works" and urge for implementation the law that provides for protection of the intelectual properties.

The two hour-long demonstrations under the theme 'Encouraging Creativity' took off from Maskal Square and headed to the Parliament Office.

The artists complained about the government's failure to enforce copyright legislation, which they said left them "poor and hungry," Aregahagn told The Daily Monitor that although the copy right law believed to ensure the rights and privileges of intellectual properties of artists' was adopted and endorsed by the government a year ago, works continue to be used and abused by selfish and unlaswful individuals.

"So we demand that the executive body of the country ensure our rights and to stand by the side of artists," Aregahagn said "Though the government has endorsed copy right law we didn't enjoy the fruits and illegal copying continues against our interests," singer song writer Artist Moges Teka told The Daily Monitor.

The artists said the government should set up an extraordinary court to punish "those behind the illegal copying of their works of art.

Around ten artists and publishers representing their respective genres submitted a joint complaint letter to the House of People's Representative, Cultural Affairs Standing Committee urging the government to enforce the law.

World Intellectual Property Day is observed on April 26 by 184 county's art professionals. While it is marked for the seventh time in the world it is also marked in it in Ethiopia for the second time