CopyGhana, a Reprographic Rights Organization of Ghana has bemoaned the practice of mass photocopying and digital copying of literary and printed works taking place in the various educational institutions.
The widespread phenomenon, according to the group is an infringement on the moral and economic rights of authors and publishers in the country and denying them of their legitimate income.
The leadership of the copyright licensing body made this known when they called on the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abednego Okoe Feehi Amartey at his office on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.
The meeting among other things was to deliberate over best ways of implementing the newly introduced blanket Reprographic Fee which will see students of tertiary institutions paying a ‘token fee’ every academic year for photocopying and digital copying of literary and printed materials.
Leader of the CopyGhana delegation, Dr Kwaku M. Ganu who also doubles as the Chairman of the Technical Committee and the Vice-Chair of the CopyGhana Board, explained that although his outfit have the legal mandate (under the Copyright Act 2005, Act 690 and Copyright Regulations 2010, L.I 1962) to license and collect reprographic fees from user institutions and other organizations who deal in mass scale photocopying or digital copying, it has decided to rather engage important stakeholders like the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) as part of its sensitization exercise.
Dr. Ganu added that he believes the approach adopted by his organization would foster understanding between them and the user institutions.
Prof Abednego Amartey in his response welcomed the group and expressed his excitement about the move taken by CopyGhana, saying “as an author, I welcome any proposal that aims at putting monies into the pockets of literary creators and owners as result of reproduction or reuse of their materials.”
He, however, implored the leadership to seek audience with Vice-Chancellors Ghana since according to him “they are major stakeholders and plays an indispensable role in tertiary education decision-making.”
Other members of the CopyGhana delegation included the Executive Director, Ben Nyadzi, Dr. G. Kwesi Annoh (Chairman), Asare Konadu Yamoah, Matthew Mac-Kwame and Eric Ofei.
Also present at the meeting were the Ag. Dean of the Centre for International Education and Collaboration (CIEC), Dr Kweku Rockson and his deputy Dr Koryoe Anim-Wright.
About CopyGhana
CopyGhana is the Reprographic Rights Organization (PRO) of Ghana and a member of the Joint Committee of Collective Management Organizations (JCCMOs) which licenses educational institutions and organizations to copy and reuse copyright protected materials from prints and digital publications assigned to it by the rightsholders.
