The Southern and Eastern Africa Copyright Network (SEACONET), whose main objective is to strengthen collaboration, cooperation and harmonization in the fields of copyright, related rights and creative industries, was formally launched by the ministers responsible for copyright matters from the sub-region in Lilongwe, Malawi, on 30th May, 2008. Invitations to the launch were sent to all ministries
responsible for copyright matters in the sub-region and ministers from Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Uganda and Zambia participated in the launch. The launch was preceded by a meeting of officials from copyright offices and copyright societies of Angola, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe. There were also representatives of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) and the International Federation of Reprographic Rights Organizations (IFRRO). The meeting adopted the Constitution, the Strategic Plan for the period 2008 to 2011 and determined the entrance and annual membership fees. It also elected the first Executive Council consisting of the Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA), the Southern Africa Music Rights Organization (SAMRO), the Kenya Reproduction Rights Organization (KOPIKEN), the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (NASCAM) and the Copyright Office of Zambia. The meeting agreed that the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) be the Secretariat of the Network. The establishment of SEACONET was described as one of ‘Sub-region’s greatest initiatives and achievements’ in the field of copyright and related rights. A regional platform for all stakeholders had been a missing link in the promotion, respect and development of copyright industries. It is not surprising, therefore that the launch was financially supported by UNESCO, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organizations (IFRRO) and the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC). The objectives of SEACONET are:
• To collaborate with governments and other stakeholders in the sub region in promoting copyright, related rights and cultural industries;
• To develop and maintain an efficient and effective Network that promotes and protects the interests of creators in the sub region;
• To develop and maintain a sub regional centre of information and research on copyright and related rights;
• To organize and facilitate sub regional training and awareness programs on copyright and related rights;
• To establish data-bases of creators, performers and works in the sub region;
• To initiate, contribute and facilitate the documentation of traditional knowledge and works of folklore at sub regional level;
• To organize sub regional conferences to discuss challenges and opportunities for copyright and cultural industries;
• To establish and extend networks with international organizations, both governmental and non-governmental in protecting and advancing copyright and related rights;
• To sensitize governments in the sub region on the importance of copyright and related rights to national and sub regional development;
• To collect and publish data on copyright, related rights and cultural industries in the sub region;
• To raise funds for the promotion of copyright, related rights and cultural industries.
