ZIMURA launches copyright education to artists in Zimbabwe amidst rising disputes

ZIMSPHERE 

HARARE – In efforts to address the escalating copyright disputes in Zimbabwe's music industry, the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) has decided to launch a series of nationwide workshops on copyright law awareness.

The dispute that started it all ... [Image: Pindula]

The workshops, open to all musicians regardless of their membership status with ZIMURA, aim to empower artists with knowledge about their intellectual property rights and how to safeguard them. 

ZIMURA's executive director, Polisile Ncube-Chimhini, stated, "This is a service we give to artistes and stakeholders. Artistes need to take time to know copyright to avoid infringing other artistes’ copyright." 

Ncube-Chimhini further urged musicians to "attend workshops, read widely on intellectual property laws, visit ZIMURA social media handles or visit the office for more information on intellectual property."

The workshops, scheduled to run throughout the year across different provinces, come in the wake of several high-profile copyright disputes. 

Notably, gospel musician Pastor Charles Charamba recently filed a complaint with YouTube, resulting in the removal of Jah Signal's music video Sweetie, which had amassed millions of views. Charamba claimed that Jah Signal had used his gospel hit song Kana Vanhu Vangu without permission, leading to the dispute.

Evidently, such incidents underscore the complexities of music production agreements and the importance of clear contracts and understanding of intellectual property rights. As the Zimbabwean music industry continues to grapple with these issues, it is hoped that these disputes will pave the way for more robust and fair practices in the future.