Liberian Movie dealer cries Foul
A Liberian movie dealer and owner of the Dream Electronic Business Center in Central Monrovia has seriously appealed to the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the Liberian Legislature to help enforce the copy right laws of Liberia.
Mr. Emmanuel Sorsor Jr. told journalists yesterday at his office that Liberian movie dealers were being duped without profit due to the high rate of piracy.
According to Mr. Sorsor, he has single handedly identified unscrupulous business people involved in the piracy and turn them over to the Liberia National Police or LNP without any remedy, leaving them (the dealers) with no option, but market with violators of the copy right laws.
Mr. Sorsor also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of Liberia for prioritizing and purchasing their movies produced in Liberia.
He urged the Government of Liberia and members of the Legislature to assist dealers of Liberian movies to save the face of the industry toward progress and prosperity.
The rate of piracy is reportedly high in the country.
Recently, members of the Liberia Association of Gospel Music Artists or LAGMA demonstrated in mass before the Foreign Ministry Office of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on Capitol Hill, demanding government’s intervention in enforcing the copyright laws.
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The President of LAGMA, Zarweay Gaye, said, copyright has caused them over US$1m.
He said Liberian musicians spend huge sums to produce/record an album, but experience huge losses, appealing to President Sirleaf to add her voice to their voices to help halt the copyright violation.
He said RK Enterprise- the distributor was no longer buying their music due to the copyright problem, vowing not sit supinely until the intervention of President of Liberia.
“We have tried through the legal process to stop those who are found in copyright business, but we were stopped by some lawmakers,” he noted.
“Some of the lawmakers do not even know the copyright law that is why they are against arresting those who are involved copyright law violation,” he claimed.
By Ben P. Wesee
