Ethiopia's new Media Law criticised

Reuters reports that critics are describing Ethiopia's new media law, the Mass Media and Freedom of Information Law, as a threat to free expression, despite the fact that it bans the censorship of private media and the detention of journalists. Members of the opposition object that the new law still allows state prosecutors to invoke national security as grounds for impounding publishing materials prior to publication and distribution.

At this stage it is unclear what the impact of the new law will be upon copyright-creating, copyright-owning and copyright carrying sectors.