Akan Film Producers say if stringent measures are not taken to curb the current spate of piracy, the country’s local film industry will collapse in no time.
According to them, the unchecked canker was stifling efforts by players in the industry to raise the standard of production to an international level.
The producers say piracy does not only rob them of their expected revenue, but significantly tamper with the quality of their products, thereby causing public disaffection against them.
In an interview with BEATWAVES, the Financial Secretary to the Akan Film Producers Association (AFPA), Mr Eugene Moratt, said the worrying concern is that foreigners, mainly Nigerians and Malians, are mostly engaged in the illicit business.
He noted that whereas a producer needs not less than GH¢40,000 to produce a local movie, a pirate on the other hand needs only GH¢2.50 to buy original copy of a movie and then duplicate them in bulk for the market.
Mr Moratt who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of E and E Productions in Kumasi explained that because the pirates do not incur much cost as the producers, they tend to sell their products cheaper in the open market.
He emphasized that though his outfit was doing all it could to fight piracy, what they required most to be successful in their bid is massive governmental support.
Against this background, Mr Moratt urged the government to expedite action on the passage of the new Copyright Bill, which has been lying on the table for quite some time now, into law.
He said whilst awaiting the passage of the bill into law, government should be up and doing and make sure that the existing laws were implemented to the letter to save the movie industry from collapse.
Mr Moratt indicated that the way and manner some courts in the country deal leniently with pirates when they are brought before them leaves much to be desired and simply does not support the fight against piracy.
He narrated that recently, they had the rudest shock of their lives when a Kumasi court slapped a paltry GH¢1,500 on a pirate who had pirated assorted local movies in bulk when indeed the pirate upon his arrest was ready to pay GH¢5,000 to escape the long arm of the law.
Source: Daily Guide
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