James, Not every Kenyan can play music from other forms. Some people still have Cassettes and CD players. The issue of how music is sold to you is secondary AFTER its copyright has been managed. Lets not confuse the issue of copyright infringement with that of access to music. Licensing limited number of duplicates just means an artist can tell the person making CDs to make 100,000 for now and when they need to make more, they contact the artist. On the internet though, downloads can move from 1 to 1m in day.... -----Original Message----- From: James Kariuki [mailto:jkariuki@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2012 7:28 AM To: Bernard Kioko [Bernsoft Interactive Limited] Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] Music Piracy in Kenya - Government can Help
You and your brother own a goat at 50/50. Your brother is also a member of a society that sells goats called (lets call it GCSK J ). One morning your brother goes to GCSK and tells them he has a goat and they tell him, we can sell the goat. They take the goat and sell it. You return home and your brother tells you BTW, I sold the goat..and he tells you.I was paid my 50% and directs you to go to GCSK to get your money. At GCSK, they tell you, if you are not a member we can't pay you! Further, they tell you, after 3 yrs any money we collect that belongs to non-members "evaporates" - well not in those words exactly!
What I read here is of an industry or at least a section of it that has completely refused to evolve with the times. The traditional market-place underwent a major transformation. Why would I in this day and age want to buy a full CD if I just need or like one song in the full CD? I guess part of the losses and infringements that are reported here are part because of the rigidity in the industry in embracing the mix and mash. For a musician or producer, why would you want to sell CDs when the sale of individual songs out-performs the sale of complete CDs? Having said that, I do not get the issue of 'licensing a limited number of duplicates'. --James