COSOTA hosts African copyright summit to strengthen film and digital content industries

 

By Our Reporter 

DAR ES SALAAM, July 15 — Tanzania is hosting a major regional copyright forum bringing together policymakers, regulators, filmmakers, performers and intellectual property experts from more than 16 African countries to discuss how stronger copyright protection can help unlock the continent’s growing creative economy.

The Fifth African Regional Seminar on Copyright and Related Rights in the Audiovisual Sector, being held in Dar es Salaam on July 15-16, is organised by the Tanzania Copyright Society (COSOTA) in partnership with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Global Audiovisual Alliance (GAVA).

Held under the theme “Building a Sustainable and Competitive Audiovisual Ecosystem in Africa through Copyright and Related Rights,” the seminar is examining ways to strengthen legal and institutional frameworks supporting the film, television, music and digital content industries across Africa.

Participants are discussing issues ranging from copyright enforcement and digital content distribution to fair remuneration for creators, collective rights management and the impact of emerging technologies on the audiovisual sector. The meeting also seeks to identify practical measures for improving market access and increasing returns for creators and performers.

The forum comes at a time when Africa’s creative industries are experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing demand for locally produced content and the expansion of digital platforms. However, stakeholders say weak copyright enforcement, piracy and limited monetisation opportunities continue to constrain the sector’s full economic potential.

According to ARIPO and its partners, the regional seminar builds on previous meetings held across the continent aimed at strengthening performers’ rights, improving collective management systems and promoting the implementation of international copyright treaties. Previous editions have produced recommendations focused on regional cooperation, governance, transparency and fair compensation for creators.

Experts attending the Dar es Salaam gathering are also exploring how copyright frameworks can support innovation while ensuring creators benefit from the commercial use of their works in an increasingly digital environment. Discussions include the role of technology in content creation and distribution, as well as strategies for protecting intellectual property rights across borders.

Stakeholders said stronger copyright systems are essential not only for protecting creative works but also for attracting investment, creating jobs and increasing the contribution of the creative sector to national economies.

For Tanzania, hosting the seminar provides an opportunity to strengthen collaboration with regional and international partners while showcasing the country’s commitment to developing a vibrant and competitive creative industry ecosystem. The event is also expected to generate recommendations that could help improve copyright governance and support sustainable growth of Africa’s audiovisual sector.