Over 1.5 million holograms sold

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Government has sold over 1.5 million out of the five million holograms that were procured in September 2013 to be used as security features on all audio visual materials sold on the Zambian market.

 

The total sale of holograms as at December 2014 translates to K1, 575,000 because each hologram costs K1.00.

 

Copyright Unit Acting Registrar Grace Kasungami disclosed that 10 percent of the K1, 575, 000 has since been remitted to the Zambia Music Copyright Society (ZAMCOPS) as mechanical rights for artists whose works were sold.

 

Ms. Kasungami revealed that from the time the holograms were introduced on the Zambia market, a total of 121 producers and importers have been accredited countrywide.

She stated that only importers and producers accredited with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services have the right to purchase holograms.

 

Ms. Kasungami expressed concern over the escalating number of pirated products on the streets of Lusaka and other parts of the country despite the introduction of the security feature to distinguish genuine products from counterfeit ones.

 

She noted that the fight against piracy can only be conquered if there are concerted efforts from all stakeholders such as the Zambia Police, Zambia Revenue Authority, the local authority police and many others.

 

She warned people who trade in pirated products that the law will take its course on them because the Copyright and Rights Performance Act forbids the sale of audio visual products without a hologram.

 

Meanwhile, between 2013 and December 2014, six people were arrested and prosecuted in Kabwe for selling pirated products while some piracy cases are still pending in the courts of law.

 

And the Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) has expressed sadness at the continued sale of audio-visual materials and artistic works which have no holograms.

 

Association publicity secretary Mwembe Chuulu, popularly known as Mwembe Muntu, said the association was concerned with the loss of revenue of their members through piracy.

 

Chuulu said it was disheartening to see people selling CDs and DVDs that do not bear hologram without fear of the law.

 

He has since appealed to the law enforcement agencies to enforce the law and arrest perpetrators of piracy because they rob owners of the artistic works of money that could be used to develop the industry.

 

He noted that government has done a good thing to introduce holograms but regretted that the law enforcers have not been effective enough in implementing the law.

 

Chuulu has however commended government for introducing the use of holograms on all audio-visual materials sold on the local market.

 

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