By Weswa Ronnie
MBALE
Uganda Registration Services Bureau [URSB] wants Parliament to amendments in the Copyright law such that radio and TV Stations pay artistes whose songs they play.
This was revealed by the Director of Intellectual Property at URSB, Gilbert Agaba during a sensitization workshop of local artists from Bugisu region about copyrights laws on Wednesday, 18th October 2023 at Resort Hotel, Mbale City.
He revealed that URSB wants to work together with artists and push Parliament to make changes in the current law like asking media houses to pay artists money before airing their songs so that artists can also benefit.
Meanwhile, it was also revealed that Copyright law allows ownership through “works made for hire,” which establishes that works created by an employee within the scope of employment are owned by the employer.
According to Uganda Registration Service Bureau [URSB] some local artists are ignorant about this, whereas other people use their content without permission.
Rex Achile, the Mbale City Resident Commissioner who was the guest of honor at the function urged local artists to take their talent as jobs and sing songs with developmental messages.
Yusuf Walimbwa, the president of Elgon music association expressed his happiness with the proposal to amend the law.
He says that this is going to help artists get money since radio and television stations have been using their content without them benefiting anything.
