We have no confidence in copyright body, Tanzanian artistes claim

Dar es Salaam. Urban musicians have asked assistance from the ministry of Information, Arts, Culture and Sports and Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) to protect copyright of their artistic works claiming that they no longer trust the Copyright Society of Tanzania (Cosota).

Speaking on Thursday at a meeting with Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, who is the Information, Arts, Culture and Sports minister, the chairman of the Tanzania Urban Music Association (Tuma), Mr Brighton Mbwana, said the copyright body has proved failure.

"We have been trying hard to convince Cosota to improve our business environment, especially on copyright issues, but they have failed us. We therefore ask for help from the responsible ministry and TCRA to intervene in the matter," he said.

He said, various people and companies have been using their works making good money, but artistes themselves gain nothing. Yet the Cosota has failed to contain the matter.

He added that, Tuma, as the national music association has sought assistance from the two regulators to help artists with copyright issues of their works because they have lost hope in Cosota.

However, the association has started a campaign to mobilise artists countrywide to be registered under a single umbrella in order to be reached easily when they want to address their copyright issues.

According to him, they have managed to reach four regions and they appealed for the two regulators to help them in the remaining regions.