By Seleoe Nonyane
The Lesotho Copyright Board Society of Authors and Artists (LESCOSSA) is running an awareness and information campaign on copyright laws which is meant to protect the work and legacy of artists.
Following the registration of the association which in April 2021, LESCOSSA has an ongoing registration where local artists are expected to register with the association.
The registration is done so that when money collections have been made the association is able to identify the right artist to whom the money collected belongs.
Local artists have showed their concerns for the longest time about their work being taken for granted and receiving little to no income from the music they have generated.
However, the chief executive for LESCOSSA ‘Makhukhumala Kama at a media briefing held this week said laws protecting artists have always been around since 1989 but there was a management gap hence implementations are only being done now.
She added that it is important that the public is made aware that artistic work is still work like any other job, therefore artists also deserve some credit for their work just like other jobs.
Kama indicated that the association has compared tariffs from different countries where copyright laws are already operational, in order to learn how they are implemented.
“After this, the association will take stock of Lesotho’s economy then set tariff proposals for different companies”, Kama said.
Artists and authors are required to bring along identification and proof of work they have done.
