The Privy Council decision in Maharaj v Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd, [2019] UKPC 21 (20 May 2019) has shone a Guaracara-esque spotlight onto Petrotrin’s decision to abandon its $97 million USD claim against Malcolm Jones. According to the Court, based on the evidence available to them, ‘there …
Read More »Crowne: Mas Confusion; videos or photos for personal use do not infringe copyright laws
Works of mas have come into the spotlight recently. In particular, the right to photograph, record or broadcast such works during Carnival. The Trinidad and Tobago Copyright Organisation (TTCO)—the collective management organisation (CMO) that claims responsibility for administering the copyright in ‘works of mas’—has suggested that photography, videography and/or broadcasting …
Read More »Dear Editor: Counterfeit goods are a threat to the economy and can kill
“The argument that counterfeit goods do no harm is immediately silenced when matters of life and death are quite literally in issue. Imagine being prescribed a certain pill at a certain dosage to treat your condition. “Invariably, a counterfeit pharmaceutical will lack the essential compounds necessary to treat your condition. …
Read More »Letter to the Editor: Don’t be fooled; live streaming commercial events IS illegal!
“Section 21 of Trinidad’s Copyright Act, among other things, expressly gives the performer the exclusive right to broadcast and rebroadcast his/her performance… “There is absolutely no exception, or limitation, in our intellectual property laws that would sanction the live streaming of the entire Machel Monday concert.” The following Letter to …
Read More »Carnival copyright and how it changed our mas
It shouldn’t be surprising, given the NCC’s failure to hold a public consultation on the copyright issues that arose in 2013, to find the whole ugly mess bubbling up again. Photographers who went to the NCC to seek accreditation for the 2014 edition of the event found no reductions in …
Read More »NCBA stifles Carnival internet stream… and common sense
Economics 101: How do you raise interest and help ensure the long term viability of Carnival? If you are a 21st century homo sapien, the internet might be your first and most cost-effective stop. Encourage the Trinidad and Tobago media and Carnival participants to take photographs and show videos of revellers …
Read More »Local copyright body tackles Facebook, COTT and its own relevance
Not content with harassing the media and party promoters, the Trinidad and Tobago Copyright Organisation (TTCO) has opted to go after the big fish, Facebook and its users. So, if you believe spending upwards of $4,000 on a carnival costume and hundreds more on gym fees entitles you to share …
Read More »T&T copyright groups bubbling for a fight; no getaway
A lecturer and medical students at the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex were relieved of their money, jewelry, cellular phones, laptop computers, wallets and iPads yesterday at 9.30 am. North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) chairman Dr Shehenaz Mohammed said security would be beefed up at the complex as a …
Read More »Carnival’s Axis of Copyright; what’s wrong with the NCC
I’ve been advised, by a source with no reason to lie about such things, that some quite draconian fees have been instituted for the coverage of Carnival in 2013. These fees break out as follows… NCC Fees: Personal use – $600.00, Commercial use – $800.00 Additional National Carnival Bandleader’s Association (NCBA) fees …
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