Swazi Observer

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COPYRIGHT LICENSING TO START NEXT YEAR

By Tanele Sihlongonyane | 2024-11-06

GOOD news for Eswatini artists as the copyright licensing was announced to commence in the first quarter of 2025.

This was revealed by Executive Director of Eswatini Copyright and Neighboring Rights Society (ESWACOS) Mmeli Hlanze. He was speaking during the Eswatini Intellectual Property Office Stakeholder Consultative meeting for the draft regulations of the copyright and neighboring rights, held at the Hilton Garden yesterday.

“We aim to protect and promote the economic interests of copyright holders in literary works, musical works, artistic works, audio-visual works, sound recordings, broadcasts, programme carrying signals and published editions,” he said.

Hlanze said that by protecting copyright and neighbouring rights, they were fostering an environment that encourages innovation and creativity.

“This, in turn, drives economic growth by creating jobs, attracting investment, and enhancing our cultural identity. As we develop these regulations, let us remember that our ultimate goal is to empower our creators and ensure that their rights are respected and upheld,” he said.

Hlanze added that as ESWACOS, they played a pivotal role in advancing the economic interests of copyright holders in the country.

“Our mission is to ensure that creators receive fair remuneration for their works while promoting awareness about copyright protection among the public.Through our collective management efforts, we facilitate licensing agreements that enable businesses and organisations to use copyrighted materials legally,” he said.

He added that they were committed as an office to collecting royalties on behalf of their members and distributing these funds transparently and efficiently. Hlanze said their work did not only support individual creators but also contributed significantly to the overall economic landscape of Eswatini.

“We recognise that establishing a strong legal framework through these regulations is essential for our operations. It will provide clarity on rights management, enhance enforcement mechanisms against infringement, and ultimately create a more favourable environment for creativity to thrive,” he said.

Hlanze said some of the milestones that had been achieved by the society were the setting of music tariffs.

“The draft music tariffs are an essential tool in the licensing of users of music in Eswatini and these collections will form part of the royalties to be distributed to rights holders,” he said.

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