Visual artists, poets and comedians have petitioned the Copyright Society of Malawi (Cosoma), requesting to be considered in blank media levy royalties.
According to the petition addressed to Cosoma executive director, the artists feel excluded from the current copyright royalty structures and representation.
They have further questioned the legal, institutional and operational barriers that prevents them from being included in the royalty framework and what determinants
Cosoma uses in selecting creative genres to be considered for the royalties.
Reads the petition in part: “Malawi’s creative economy is vibrant and diverse. Visual artists, poets, and comedians contribute significantly to the national identity, civic education, mental wellness, tourism, and economic development.
“However, these creators remain unrecognised in Cosoma’s operational framework despite the clear need and legal justification for their inclusion under Malawi’s copyright laws.”
The petition has since demanded Cosoma to publicly clarify its current position on the inclusion of visual artists, poets and comedians in its royalty structures.
“We believe this is not just a legal obligation, but a cultural and moral one to ensure equity and recognition for all creative practitioners in Malawi.”
In an interview yesterday, Cosoma public relations officer Catherine Mitungwi said there is lack of understanding from the artists. Mtingwi said it is not every art facet that can be considered for royalties.
She said: “There is an apparent lack of understanding on what we consider when it comes to royalties. Visual art works can never be liable to piracy. We have supporting data in our system which helps us to make our decisions.”
Mitungwi said Cosoma will engage the artists to enlighten them on the matter.
