Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo has appointed and unveiled Eswatini’s first Copyrights Society Board.
The board members were drawn from various arts associations, the legal sector and government. Film producer and videographer Samkeliso Nxumalo has been appointed chairperson of the Board.
Nxumalo was appointed alongside Mluleki Sakhile Dlamini, Nobuhle Matsebula, Tiyamike Maziya, Mxolisi Vilakati , Mxolisi Radebe, Madoda Mdziniso, Phinda Nkosi and Annelisa Stoffels. The Board was unveiled at SEDCO offices in Mbabane yesterday.
The main function of the Copyright Society Board, according to the ministry, is to determine payable copyright rates and tariffs, granting of copyright licences and the collection and distribution of royalties’ to appropriate rights owners (especially artists).
Tasks One of the initial tasks of the Board is to formulate rates for the usage of copyright content.
This is a complex task of balancing what will be profitable remuneration to the creators and owners of copyright in order to make participation and engagement in this industry a sustainable vocation. Chairperson of the board Samkeliso said this was good for the industry, especially because artists had been waiting for this moment.
He said he was happy that the minister mentioned that the copyright industries was significant and estimated at between two and five per cent of the Eswatini’s GDP.
“This copyright is a need in the industry as artists have been working and not seeing the fruits of their work, this will come in at the right time, especially because they have been longing for it, generating income for what they do nor love doing,” he said.
He promised that as a board, they would apply themselves strongly in working towards the needs of artists, working hard and applying their knowledge into the work. Minister Khumalo said creating a statutory body that would look into the dimension of the economic exploitation and management of copyright and professionalising this sector could not have come at a better time.
He said the development and capacitating of the copyright sector was also extremely important, hence the ministry of commerce industry and trade would monitor the society while developing programmes that advance the copyright industry and related industries. Khumalo said the Copyright Society Board would put in place a secretariat for the day-to-day administration of society affairs.
“In doing so, it must be remembered that the cardinal rules of treating members is treating them fairly and transparently.
Our legislature has made it clear that the society is created for ease of copyright administration and collective synergies, but it remains voluntary for copyright content owners to join.
Arrangement
“In the near future, the society is to enter into reciprocal arrangement with foreign societies for ease of mutual and reciprocal agreement for the collection of royalties with foreign entities.
This is key as we know we now live in a global world, and the enjoyment of copyright works knows no boundaries, even though copyright is a territorial right,” said the minister. Khumalo also revealed that government had injected funds to establish the society. “As government, we are to continue until such a time that the funds and assets accumulated by the Copyright Society are adequate for self-sustenance.
Properly managing and accounting for the funds of the society is key,” he added. Dr Celucolo Dludlu of the Intellectual Property Registrar within the IP office, which is under the ministry, explained that the IP office was the custodian of various IP laws, policies and services.
Dludlu said the copyright statute gives guidance to the minister on how and who to include in appointing members of the board that would supervise the society.
“Continuing the theme of stakeholder engagement and consultation, members for this board have been selected by their respective constituencies to compose a multi-disciplinary body.
The board members that the minister is introducing today come from diverse backgrounds as prescribed by the Act and we are much hopeful that they will make impactful contributions to the mandate and activities of the society,” he said.
Dludlu added that the IP office, they would be offering their support and work hand in hand with the board, society and stakeholders.
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