. Mushala

By CHARITY MOONGA? –
MINISTRY of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Bert Mushala has warned that the hologram is now law in Zambia and anyone found selling CDs, DVDs and other musical works without it, will be prosecuted.
Mr Mushala’s sentiments are in accordance with the Copyright and Performance Rights Act which prohibits any dealings in pirated audio-visual products.
He said this in a statement from the ministry yesterday on the fight against piracy and counterfeits.
The ministry, through the registrar of copyrights, had intensified the fight against piracy and counterfeits.
A number of convictions have been secured against perpetrators of piracy and counterfeit products, while several other cases were currently under prosecution in the courts of law.
As at September 30, this year, the ministry has secured convictions in cases of piracy throughout the country.
In Kabwe, magistrate Temwaninge Mhango convicted Godfrey Kaole, 30 and John Mbewe, 37, on September, 2014 for selling CDs and DVDs, without a hologram – a security feature which, by law, is supposed to be affixed on all original audio-visual products.
Magistrate Mhango fined Kaole and Mbewe K1, 200 and K750 respectively or in default, three months simple imprisonment.
In another court, magistrate Sebastian Mwenya, fined Paul Bwalya, 38, and Francis Nswana, aged 24, K300.00 each on September 27, 2014 for selling audio-visual works without a hologram.?Kabwe magistrate, Maxwell Shiwanga also fined Moses Kangwa, 32, and Stevious Silengo, 26, K400 each for selling compilations and audio-visual works without a hologram.
In Solwezi, the Intellectual Property Unit of the Zambia Police Service on August 22, confiscated computers and arrested 29 people for pirating and being in possession of articles used or?intended to be used for the purpose of making infringing copies.
All the 29 suspects are due for prosecution in the court of law.?In Chirundu, Police on September 2, arrested Joseph Chishimba, 35 and Kelvin Mulenga, 28 for advertising and selling DVDs without a holograms, even though the products in question were their own works but were in contravention of the law.
The two suspects are on Police bond pending appearance in court.?Meanwhile, in Choma, Police arrested four people for selling CDs and DVDs without holograms and for making musical compilations without the consent of the owners. ?‘‘This crusade, however, cannot succeed without the support and cooperation of members of the general public who are the consumers of pirated and counterfeit products, knowingly or unknowingly,’’ Mr Mushala said.