Flash drive music copying slammed

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Tuesday 10th January 2012

By JAYNE SAFIHAO
MADANG artistes say they are being ripped off by some shops in the provincial capital who have been copying their music onto computer flash drives or SD cards and on selling them.
Gedix Atege and James Hanul of the Junior Wali Hits group have lodged a police report claiming loss of economic rights under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2000.   
Atege said that he used to receive at least K2,000-K3,000 a month but had received nothing in the way of royalties in the last three months.
“This is our sustenance. Making music is what we are gifted with and for these people to transfer our songs onto flash drives and charging K10 per 50 songs is a rip off,” Atege said. 
Police yesterday raided a store in town and confiscated a laptop, 14 flash drives and a number of SD cards believed to contain songs by Atege, Hanul as well as other artistes.
The pair is considering taking legal action against the owner of the shop which was raided yesterday.
Previously, Atege had accepted an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed amount with two other shop owners over piracy of his music.
But this time, he is determined to take the matter to court.