Piracy undermines businesses, redirects revenue streams
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday April 7, 2025 13:09
Speaking at the Media Training on The Role of Media in the Fight Against Piracy on Tuesday, Pillay explained that over time, that resulted in a reduction of taxable income, directly affecting government revenues. She added that it also deprived artists, content creators, and producers of financial rewards from their work. Pillay said the creative and broadcasting industries are significant contributors of employment but their sustainability has been threatened by piracy. “Piracy threatens these industries, leading to job losses across multiple sectors, including production, distribution, and ancillary services. High levels of piracy can also signal weak intellectual property enforcement, deterring foreign investors from funding local projects or entering the market. Multichoice has always been committed to enriching lives through storytelling and content that resonates with our audiences,” she said. Furthermore, Pillay explained that they recognise that the strength of their industry lies in the expertise of a pipeline of professionalism of the individuals and institutions they exist among. She added that when they invested in editors and senior journalists, they were strengthening the media sector and contributing to the broader socio-economic development of their nation.
She therefore called on different stakeholders, including the media, to join hands in fighting piracy. Giving her remarks, the Assistant Minister for State President Maipelo Mophuting, said last year, MultiChoice Botswana, the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA), and the Copyright Society of Botswana, COSBOTS, organised a national dialogue on combating content piracy in Botswana under the theme, 'United against piracy, be the champion against piracy.' She explained that the dialogue underscored the detrimental economic impact of piracy on the creative economy, affecting not only creators but also the broader ecosystem that supports them. She also pointed out that left unchecked, piracy threatens to reverse all the creators' efforts and hard work. She said the fight against piracy is the restoration of creators’ dignity and livelihood. “This training programme coincides with a critical time of radical changes in the media landscape, influenced by technological advancements, changing consumer behaviours, and the rise of digital platforms. I hope we all agree that the changes in the media landscape afford us opportunities and challenges. They offer new ways of telling stories, reaching audiences, and advancing innovation. They are also demanding greater responsibility, ethical considerations, and adaptability from media professionals,” she ended.
For his part, Frikkie Jonker, director of Broadcasting Piracy and Cyber Security for the MultiChoice Group, also addressed the participants, shedding light on the growing threat of broadcasting piracy and its impact on the media industry. He highlighted the need for collective action to combat piracy and protect intellectual property, stressing that a sustainable media industry relies on the secure distribution of content and safeguarding of creative works. The training programme provided a platform for robust dialogue and knowledge sharing, with participants engaging in discussions on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in the media industry. The collaboration between MultiChoice Botswana, the Botswana Editors Forum, and other stakeholders marks a significant step towards building a vibrant, innovative, and ethical media sector in Botswana.