Botswana's high aspirations for copyright unveiled

The Republic of Botswana Daily News reports that the Government is taking steps to "save artistes" - with the Copyright Office acquiring a security device to authenticate all sound and audiovisual recordings. Minister of Trade and Industry Neo Moroka says the device will be purchased in July and in operation by August of this year. A fund will also be set up from the collection of levies on technical devices such as cellphones, photocopiers, tapes and compact discs, mp3s and other devices with a copying facility. The fund will be administered by the copyright office and will be used for the benefit of rights holders as well as to finance programmes aimed at mitigating the negative effects of copyright infringements. Plans are also reportedly well advanced for establishing a copyright society which will collect and distribute royalties.