19 Sep 2018

The Copyright Society of Botswana (COSBOTS), communications manager, Seeletso Lekgaba says they have extended their services to also collect royalties for photography, visual arts, poetry, drama and for writers and publishers.

Lekgaba was addressing councillors of the Central District Council recently.

“COSBOTS is committed towards uplifting lives. Now poets, sculptors, writers, photographers, painters, jewelers, lyricists, theatricals and drama can start benefiting from royalties,” she said.

She indicated that all that was required was for artists to authenticate their works through the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) and register with them.

“Our mandate is to among others licence and collect royalties from users of copyright/protected works and distribute to copyright owners, and our doors are open to ensure that we assist artists in terms of representation in that regard,” she said.

Lekgaba called on councillors as the leadership of the district to join hands in protecting artists’ works through sensitisation of the communities they led.

She noted that their membership was free and that upon registration members received royalties from both local and international users of their copyrighted works, adding that all that members were authorised usage for, and protection of their works as they also negotiated on behalf of members for royalty rates.

“We provide our members with advice so that they can make informed decisions and favourable contractual agreement. 

Through that our members will be therefore empowered to focus on and develop their careers, thus saving their time and money,” she said.

Lekgaba also noted that members received royalties through their lifespan and for 50 years after their death before the works were put into the public domain.

“We should bear in mind that royalties shall only be distributable upon completion of the authentication process and approval of full membership by the society’s board of directors.

With regard to the users of protected works, she indicated that they had developed a mechanism of licensing as a way of authorising others to use protected works under agreed terms and conditions.

She said the act included  DJ’s, broadcasters, retailers and event promoters who were to pay a fee in performing their duties.

“Different tariffs apply depending on the usage of the works. Artists, creators and authors create their works to benefit economically from them. They have moral rights to their works which COSBOTS has a duty to protect as envisaged by the act,” she said.

She urged councillors to spread the message in the community as there were still some people who used artist’s works for free. 

“Our licensing is divided into three categories namely; essential, important and incidental and under each category there are prescribed list of users with prescribed fees,” she noted.

Lekgaba indicated that broadcasters were expected to pay an annual fee, and said the tariff was based on the broadcaster’s audited financials and forecasts where previous books were not available.

She also noted that tariffs applied to corporate events where music was used including Christmas parties, gala dinners, launches and beauty contests, adding that the tariff would be based on the number of attendants per event, per day and applicable where it was charged or not charged.

“Payment of license fees should be done prior to the event happening. This applies to event promoters, exhibitions, trade fairs and amusement parks,” she said.  ENDS