Intellectual Property Rights and Book Piracy in the Digital Era: African Context
The rise of digital technology and online platforms has made it easier to share information, but it has also increased the risk of copyright violations and intellectual property theft. Creators like authors, musicians, and inventors now face serious problems like digital piracy, plagiarism, and fake products. Although tools like digital rights management (DRM), watermarking, and encryption can help, stopping these problems is still hard. The internet’s anonymous nature makes it difficult to track and punish those who break the rules. This creates both economic losses and a loss of motivation for creators.
World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated every year on April 26 to raise awareness about the importance of protecting creative work. Started by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000, the day reminds us how IP rights support innovation and creativity. This year’s theme, “IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP,” focuses on how IP rights help the music industry grow and support musicians worldwide. It also draws attention to how piracy, especially in Africa, is harming musicians and their work.
To mark this year’s World Intellectual Property Day, AfLIA will host a 2-day webinar on April 28th and 29th, 2025.
Time – 10.30 am UTC | 11.30am WAT | 12.30pm CAT/SAST | 1.30pm EAT
Day 1 – 28th April 2025
On the 28th of April 2025, a webinar on the topic “Free to use music or not? Music copyright literacy in the digital era” will be organised at 10.30 a.m. GMT via Zoom to highlight the challenges of musicians in the digital era, aspects of music protected by copyright law, how the FAIR principles apply to Music, and the role of Librarians in preventing musical piracy in the digital era. Music is part of the African tradition; how can libraries help to create a balance between copyright protection and the need to preserve Africa’s oral tradition? What happens when improvisation of our traditional music occurs, who holds the copyright, the musician or the community? Copyright protection is only possible when ideas even sounds are expressed in tangible formats. Can African libraries work with other stakeholders to step in here for collection or at least identification of such traditional music forms?
The presentation aims to inform library professional about the realities and implications of digital intellectual property infringement. It will enhance the knowledge of African librarians, thereby equipping them to effectively guide and educate their communities on the principles of fair use of music in the creation of digital content.
Speaker:
Mr. Mandla KaNozulu is the Deputy Chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Geographical Names Committee and the Executive Producer of KaNozulu Productions. He is an arts, culture, and heritage activist with over 30 years of experience. KaNozulu is known for his strong role in preserving heritage and promoting creative expression in South Africa. He has taken on many leadership roles in both government and civil society. He has won several awards, including a SAFTA nomination for Best Scriptwriter for UMKHOKHA, and the 2022 Durban Tourism Business Award in the Creative Category. He has also been recognized as an author at the 2019 Time of the Writer Festival and featured in the Articulate Book and Art Fair and the Harry Gwala Centenary Tribute Music Album.
Day 2 – 29th April 2025
On 29th April 2025, a panel discussion titled “Intellectual Property Rights and Book Piracy in the Digital Era: African Context” will take place via Zoom. The session will explore how digital IP infringement affects authors and publishers in Africa, examine the methods used by perpetrators, and discuss the impact of digital piracy on libraries, education, lifelong learning, and booksellers. It will also highlight the important role libraries can play in addressing and helping to combat these challenges.
Discussants:
Dawn Shabangu-Rikhotso is the CEO of Lingua Franca Publishers, a company known for creating high-quality educational books and children’s stories that celebrate Africa’s cultures and languages. With a background in engineering, Dawn moved into publishing to help improve literacy, promote inclusion, and support social development. She believes in the power of children’s books to build empathy, spark imagination, and grow future leaders. She wants all children to see themselves in the stories they read. Dawn also helps shape the publishing industry through her roles in several national and African book organizations. Her work supports a more inclusive and empowering publishing space in South Africa and beyond. Dawn currently serves as Deputy Chairperson of the African Publishers Association, Ministerial Appointee to the Legal Deposit Committee, Board Member of the Books and Publishing Content Developer Council, and a Member of the South African National Metadata User Group.
Dr. AK Etta Peters is a dynamic leader and seasoned professional with a rich background as a former university lecturer, prolific writer, and renowned author. He is the Executive Director of Setting Leadership Initiative and is widely recognized as a motivational speaker, leadership expert, and youth mentor. Dr. Peters brings expertise in project management, political strategy, event planning, and content development. He is also known for his skills as a top-notch rapporteur, master of ceremonies, and public commentator. With a strong presence in summits, conferences, and various public engagements, he continues to shape minds and inspire change. A Knight of St. John International, Dr. Peters is committed to empowering others through knowledge, leadership, and impactful communication.
Moderator:
Dr. Theresa Adu is a highly experienced librarian with over 20 years in the field. She is currently the University Librarian at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS). Before joining UHAS, she worked for 17 years at the Ghana Standards Authority and later served as University Librarian at Wisconsin International University College, Ghana. She holds a PhD in Information Science from UNISA and an MPhil in Library Studies from the University of Ghana. Dr. Adu has published widely in library and information science and serves on several journal boards. Her research focuses on intellectual property in the scientific community. She is the Country Coordinator for copyright issues for EIFL, a member of AfLIA’s Copyright Working Group, Financial Secretary for CARLIGH, and a member of both the Ghana and Medical Library Associations.
Registration
Click button to register. Kindly note that once you register, you will receive reminders about the event.
Technical requirements
Upon registration, reminders will be sent to all registrants periodically. This webinar will be hosted on Zoom Conferencing Platform. Participants, who do not have Zoom on their mobile devices and or computers, need to download, install and create an account on Zoom ahead of time (CLICK TO DOWNLOAD). Webinar attendees are encouraged to join early, preferably 15 minutes before the start of the webinar, as one may need time launch the application. The speaker will use a webcam to connect with attendees. Audio and video for the session will be streamed over computer speakers. Attendees are therefore encouraged to connect with a headset or earpiece for maximum utility.
Webinar materials
A list of resources and further information will made be available at the end of the webinar, to enable thorough engagement with the webinar content. All registrants will have access to the presentation slides. The webinar recording will be uploaded on AfLIA Youtube Channel soon after the webinar to facilitate continuous engagement with the webinar content by webinar attendees and non-attendees. Please note that this webinar does not involve certificate of participation.
Enquiries
For further enquiries and any assistance relating to the webinar, contact us at afliacomm@aflia.net.