The National Film Authority has advised television channels to seek permission for all films they show on their platforms.
The complaints are as follows:
(1) A number of terrestrial channel owners and media houses in Ghana broadcast/air movies or films on their channels.
(2) The broadcasting/airing of these movies or films are being done without the authorisation from the movie creators/copyright owners.
(3) The unauthorised broadcasting/airing of the said movies or films is in violation of exclusive rights of the copyright owners.
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By the authority’s statutory function of ensuring compliance with laws regulating copyright within the Ghanaian film industry as set out in section 3(e)(iv) of the Development and Classification of Film Act 2016 (Act 935), it has admonished that “any terrestrial channel owner or media house that intends to broadcast/air a movie or film to its viewers must obtain the requisite authorization or license from the creator/copyright owner of the movie or film. Broadcasting/airing a movie or film without authorization from the creator/copyright owner constitutes a copyright infringement which attracts both civil and criminal liabilities.”
In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, she has advised that “all terrestrial channel owners or media houses conduct assessments of all movies or films currently being broadcasted or aired on their respective channels and verifications carried out to ensure that requisite authorizations to broadcast particular movies or films have been obtained from the creators/copyright owners concerned.”
The statement also states that if the assessment reveals the absence of the required authorization to broadcast a specific movie or film, terrestrial channel owners or media houses must immediately cease and desist from broadcasting/airing the said movie or film until the necessary authorization is obtained.
The National Film Authority is a government organization tasked with enforcing the legislative framework for the creation, regulation, nurturing, and growth of Ghana’s film industry, as well as the distribution, exhibition, and marketing of films and related materials.
It was established by the Ghanaian government under the Development and Classification of Film Act 935 to control and simplify Ghana’s film industry.
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