Theft of TV content ‘rampant’

What you need to know:

  • Mr Kaikai spoke on Monday in Nairobi during a seminar on the promotion of copyright laws. The seminar, which ends today, was organised by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation, the Kenya Industrial Property Institute and the copyright board.
  • It was convened to look at ways of improving rules and how creative works such as music, film, visual arts and book publishing can create employment and raise revenue. Copyright board chairman Mr Tom Mshindi said the seminar was timely due to the move from analogue to digital platform.
  • Former Information Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo called for respect for creative works. Innovation is advancing faster than the creation of relevant laws, he added, and asked media houses to quickly adapt to changing times.

A poor understanding of copyright laws has led to mass infringement of creative content, according to media practitioners.

NTV Managing Editor Linus Kaikai on Monday said some investors in the broadcast industry were reaping where they did not sow because of the lack of adherence to copyright.

“Currently, our content is being carried by service providers without our consent. This is an affront to intellectual property,” he said.

The transition to the digital platform had worsened the situation due to a demand for content, he added.

According to the Kenya Copyright Board, the creative industry can generate about seven per cent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product, but due to weak intellectual property laws, it is yet to achieve that.

Mr Kaikai spoke on Monday in Nairobi during a seminar on the promotion of copyright laws. The seminar, which ends today, was organised by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation, the Kenya Industrial Property Institute and the copyright board.

It was convened to look at ways of improving rules and how creative works such as music, film, visual arts and book publishing can create employment and raise revenue. Copyright board chairman Mr Tom Mshindi said the seminar was timely due to the move from analogue to digital platform.

“We are in the throes of the shift from analogue, therefore we need to have the conversation on ownership of copyrights, to protect the creatives to know they can earn from their music and such,” he said. “It is not enough that you can compose a song, you need to copyright it too.”

Former Information Permanent Secretary Bitange Ndemo called for respect for creative works. Innovation is advancing faster than the creation of relevant laws, he added, and asked media houses to quickly adapt to changing times.

“All players should respect copyright laws,” he added.

Competition would be intense and media organisations should quickly learn digital migration trends and change accordingly, the former PS said. “We shouldn’t stop or shut down, but keep at it.”

Some participants felt the Communications Authority of Kenya had taken sides and had favourites in the digital migration.