In 2009, the government in Rwanda passed Law No. 31/2009, which aims to protect owners of intellectual property. Until now it has not been properly enforced, which is why the recent decision to enforce it is considered a big win for local artists.
Restaurants, hotels, radio stations etc. are now required to pay for the use of local artists work. This has been met with some resistance from the affected parties, which has criticized it for not being sufficiently comprehensive, yet it is considered a step in the right direction, as going forward, local artists will be paid for the use of their works on platforms other than live performances and sales.
NORCODE’s consultant for RSAU (Rwandan Society of Authors) and chief executive of the Copyright Society of Botswana, Thato Mokobi was present during the awareness campaign held recently with the RDB (Rwanda Development Board).
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