Africa-Press – Eswatini. The entertainment sector will soon reap the fruits of its labour as The Copyright Society has unveiled its secretariat.
The unveiling was held at Mountain View International Hotel yesterday.
The secretariat will be headed by Mmeli Hlanze as the executive director.
Other executive members included Winston Bhila (Royalty administrator), Ngenisile Dlamini (Documentation officer), Nkhosinathi Hlophe (Licensing officer), Siboniso Dlamini (Accountant).
Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Manqoba Khumalo said the board had a huge task of transparently working for the tangible benefit of the creative members of the Copyright Society.
“They will need the support and cooperation of the public as the ultimate user of copyright works. We have to embrace the change that this institution brings so that we can collectively see the fruits of the labour that is put into creative or intellectual works,” said the minister.
The board members included Mluleki Dlamini (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade), Nobuhle Matsebula (Legal Practitioner), Tiyamike Maziya (SWAMA), Mxolisi Vilakati (ACAESWA), Samkeliso Nxumalo (Chairperson Eswatini Independent Film and Television), Mxolisi Radebe (Eswatini Poetry Association), Madoda Mdziniso (Ministry of Information Communication and Technology), Phinda Nkosi (Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs), and Annelisa Stoffels (Ministry of Education and Training). IP Registrar, Dr. Celucolo Dladla, justified the need for protecting copyrights and intellectual property as it created a market to commercially exploit one’s creation.
“The justification for protecting copyright lies in its economic and socio-economic benefit. Create something original and get copyright protection so that you can have the market monopoly to commercially exploit your creation. The work that has been created can then be used to generate revenue or traded. Charge fees, get a salary, licence it (rent it out), assignment (selling), franchise it and other revenue streams,” he said. He further added that The Registration of Copyright was a convenience method introduced in the context of commercialisation, to provide certainty and clarity of ownership of copyright works.
Dladla clarified that there were two types of registrations: Voluntary type which entailed of a deposit system that allowed the securing of priority.
The Copyright Office is tasked with this type of registration. The other form was the compulsory registration – which is mainly intended for the commercial exploitation of Copyright.
The society is the custodian of this function of determining rates, collecting and distribution royalties.
“What is notable with the copyright statute and our international obligations in trade and other forums is that there should be no discrimination on protection or registration based on nationality. This puts creative Emaswati on equal footing with copyright owners from the rest of the world. However, with this requirement comes a heavy responsibility, on which the society stands or falls,” he added.
The dates for the commencement of the initiative will be announced in due time.
SECRETARIAT:
n Mmeli Hlanze
n Winston Bhila
n Ngenisile Dlamini
n Nkhosinathi Hlophe
n Siboniso Dlamini
BOARD MEMBERS:
n Mluleki Dlamini
n Nobuhle Matsebula
n Tiyamike Maziya
n Mxolisi Vilakati
n Samkeliso Nxumalo
n Mxolisi Radebe
n Madoda Mdziniso
n Phinda Nkosi
n Annelisa Stoffels
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