Music And Piracy

HAVING read The Weekender page where some of the affected artists express their views on piracy, I feel it is something truly to be taken seriously.

First, I have a question. I need to know whether I’m allowed to make a back-up copy of an original CD or cassette that I have bought, and then listen to the duplicate while keeping the original in a safe place.I understand that it is a crime if one only has a fake copy, but if I can prove that I have the original, would it still be an offence to copy it? I need to know that urgently, as I am busy copying all my local music CDs to an MP3 player to listen to.I have the originals in my possession but keep them as backup, so where do we come to an agreement here with the local artists themselves and Nascam? My other concern is the way the investigation was carried out.Windhoek Police and Nascam have worked their way through from Keetmanshoop northwards.Why not at the same time, or soon thereafter, target the northern regions too and compare how many pirate CDs are intercepted there? We still have the west, east and Khomas.Please continue with these interceptions and brief the media.Congratulations for the efforts so far – it is very surprising that the CDs in the jukeboxes are not original.To our local musicians, you guys should have no doubt that your efforts are very warmly valued and appreciated, and you are Namibian music stars or will be.But some of you give your friends copies before the release of the CD and the string extends itself much further than expected.Who would you blame in the end? Keep up the good work and don’t insult others in your music.Jurry Ramphaga Via e-mailI need to know whether I’m allowed to make a back-up copy of an original CD or cassette that I have bought, and then listen to the duplicate while keeping the original in a safe place.I understand that it is a crime if one only has a fake copy, but if I can prove that I have the original, would it still be an offence to copy it? I need to know that urgently, as I am busy copying all my local music CDs to an MP3 player to listen to.I have the originals in my possession but keep them as backup, so where do we come to an agreement here with the local artists themselves and Nascam? My other concern is the way the investigation was carried out.Windhoek Police and Nascam have worked their way through from Keetmanshoop northwards.Why not at the same time, or soon thereafter, target the northern regions too and compare how many pirate CDs are intercepted there? We still have the west, east and Khomas.Please continue with these interceptions and brief the media.Congratulations for the efforts so far – it is very surprising that the CDs in the jukeboxes are not original.To our local musicians, you guys should have no doubt that your efforts are very warmly valued and appreciated, and you are Namibian music stars or will be.But some of you give your friends copies before the release of the CD and the string extends itself much further than expected.Who would you blame in the end? Keep up the good work and don’t insult others in your music.Jurry Ramphaga Via e-mail