SOUTHERN PROVINCE MUHANGA — Business in a number of recording studios in Gitarama town came to a standstill after an official crack down on property rights was mounted this Monday. The fear came after an operation to track down piracy activities in the area was mounted by police and a local artists’ organisations from Kigali. Most recording studios have alledgedly been illegally copying local songs and films without the property rights to sell or distribute copies from the local artists. The previous Parliament passed a bill on property rights to prevent piracy, duplication of innovations and give a chance to local artists to benefit from their creation. During Monday’s operation, one person, identified as Gusufuri, was arrested and detained for possessing a local film: “Ikigaragezo cy’ubuzima” and was lined up for questioning, according to police sources. “The culprit was caught after a signal from one, Alice Umutoni, a university student, who masqueraded as a client in need of a copy of the movie,” John Nshuti, a studio operator told The New Times. Nshuti added, “The operation has been on for a long time and most clients have been demanding for the movie and other local songs; and so far we have stopped recording such copies.” Most studio operators talked to however, acknowledge awareness of the new property rights bill and say that recording and dubbing local products has been done secretively. Critics have however, said that promotion of products and popularity of local artists still depends on local studios and radio stations- many of which cannot afford to purchase the rights. “There are many copies distributed countrywide and it is us who make these artists popular because there are few organisations willing to promote and sign contracts with the artists,” one person said. Ends
