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Optimal Enforcement of Music Copyright in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Reality or a Myth?
Author(s) -
Ouma Marisella N.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the journal of world intellectual property
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.334
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1747-1796
pISSN - 1422-2213
DOI - 10.1111/j.1422-2213.2006.00304.x
Subject(s) - mythology , enforcement , aesthetics , political science , law , art , literature
The enforcement of copyright and related rights in most countries in sub‐Saharan Africa is not optimal and this has a negative impact on the development of the copyright industries. This is attested by the high levels of piracy within the sub‐continent within the music, film and book publishing sectors. It is not for lack of law; indeed, copyright laws in Africa have been in existence since the colonial era. The laws, it seems, are just but part of the problem although the real issue is the enforcement. The main purpose of this article is to try and conceptualize copyright enforcement, which the author hopes will aid understanding as to why the enforcement of copyright in sub‐Saharan Africa is sub‐optimal.