By Macharia Kamau
The Kenya Copyright Board (KCB) Wednesday destroyed over one tonne of pirated copies of music, film CDs and DVDs estimated at over Sh10 million to stem out piracy that plagues the entertainment industry in the country.
The destruction of the material was carried out in Nairobi’s Baba Dogo and was in collaboration with Eco Post Ltd, a company that manufactures plastic posts.
The firm has expertise and equipment used in crushing of the CDs and DVDs. The firm will also use the material for the fillers used in the manufacture of plastic poles as an environmental friendly way to dispose off the pirated works.
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Creative industry
The CDs and DVDs had been confiscated over time from different individuals and companies who have been pirating intellectual material as well as importing pirated material. The material destroyed as from cases that have been taken to court and concluded.
Executive Director KCB Marisella Ouma said the board is committed to fighting music and film piracy in the country.
“The high levels of piracy impede the growth and development of the creative industries in the country as the pirates leave off other people’s investment and curtail the development of the industry,” she said.
“We will continue to work with the rights holders and other enforcement agencies to ensure the levels of piracy in the copyright industries are brought down. This will help in the creation of intellectual capital and spur economic growth.”
In the last one year, more than 162 cases have been investigated with 146 prosecuted and 24 concluded with fines and custodial sentences meted out against the offenders.
