Swangz Avenue co-founder Julius Kyazze has criticised artists who celebrated the passing of Uganda’s Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Amendment Law, arguing that many did not understand the potential consequences of the changes.
Kyazze says the excitement surrounding the amendment was misplaced, noting that although Uganda already had a copyright law, the major problem was its lack of enforcement.
The noise was too much, people celebrating the wrong thing, but you couldn’t even come and say anything about it, otherwise people would think you’re hating.
He explained that the existing law needed adjustments to reflect changing circumstances, but argued that introducing new legislation would not achieve much if the authorities failed to enforce it.
We had the copyright law, there were things that needed to be modified. Like any law, after a long time, things change, so we need to be updated. So there was a copyright law already, but it wasn’t enforced, and even the new one we have isn’t enforced.
According to the music executive, one of the key provisions artists celebrated was the reduction of the period before royalties revert to their original owners, compared with the longer period under the previous law.
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However, Kyazze warned that the change could have unintended consequences for the music business, particularly by discouraging investors who put money into producing and commercialising music.
One thing they didn’t realise is that that amendment alone makes their business unattractive. Why would I invest in a business where I know the risk of me not recouping is higher? There are other options. People will go and invest in farming.
He maintains that effective enforcement of copyright protections remains crucial, suggesting that legislative changes alone will not solve the challenges facing Uganda’s music industry if the existing provisions are not properly implemented.
@talkshow_256@juliuskyazze breaks down the Copyright Law amendments, questions their impact on investment, and highlights overlooked tax changes. Are we building intellectual property or simply creating content? Full episode Now available on YouTube and all podcast platforms
♬ original sound – TUBTS Podcast
