The Legal Framework for the Exploitation of Protected Work by Broadcast Media and the Role of the Copyright Society in Ethiopia
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Date
2024-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Exploitation of protected works by broadcast media is one of the Economic right violations
of the authors and their successors in title. The growth of broadcast media industry in
Ethiopia has presumably had a significant impact on the violation such economic right of
the author. Copyright collecting societies serve as intermediary between users and
copyright holders and create less costly supply of copyrighted works and less costly access
to users of copyrighted works. The thesis explores how broadcast media in Ethiopia exploit
copyrighted works, especially audiovisual content, without properly compensating the
creators. Such actions violate the economic rights of authors, musicians, and other creators.
The study highlights that while Ethiopian copyright laws, like Proclamation No. 410/2004
and its amendment, Proclamation No. 872/2014, are in place to protect those rights, but the
enforcement is too weak. Broadcast media, particularly radio and television stations, often
fail to pay royalties for using local and international audiovisual works, and there is no
effective system to ensure they do so. Copyright collecting societies are designed to
manage the rights of creators by issuing licenses, collecting royalties, and distributing these
payments to the rightful owners. However, in Ethiopia, the copyright collecting society is
still underdeveloped and faces several challenges, including a lack of government support,
limited awareness among the public, and inadequate legal and institutional frameworks.
This situation allows media companies to freely exploit protected works without facing
penalties or being held accountable. The thesis also examines international agreements,
such as the Rome Convention and the TRIPS Agreement, which set global standards for
copyright and neighboring right protection. The study concludes by recommending
stronger legal enforcement, greater government backing for the copyright society, and a
more organized system for collecting and distributing royalties to ensure fair compensation
for authors in Ethiopia.