Cease airing unlicensed content — Copyright Office warns TV stations
The Copyright Office of Ghana has issued a warning to television stations nationwide, cautioning against the unauthorized broadcast of copyrighted material.
In a statement, the National Anti-Piracy Committee revealed that several television stations had been found illegally downloading and airing movies, TV shows, sports broadcasts, and other creative works from streaming platforms without securing the necessary licenses.
“This practice constitutes copyright infringement and is a criminal offense under the Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690), as amended,” the committee stated, adding that violators risk severe legal consequences, including substantial fines and imprisonment.
The Copyright Office expressed concern over the widespread violations, noting that illegal broadcasts are harming Ghana’s creative industry by depriving content creators and rights holders of their rightful revenue. The statement also emphasized that such acts violate both national and international copyright standards.
As part of immediate remedial actions, the Office has directed all television broadcasters to cease airing unlicensed content, obtain appropriate licenses from rights holders or their authorized agencies, and maintain accurate documentation of all content acquisition agreements for verification.
To ensure compliance, the Office announced plans to intensify surveillance and enforcement efforts in collaboration with national law enforcement agencies.
“We urge all broadcasters to respect intellectual property rights and contribute to the growth of Ghana’s creative economy by complying with the law,” the statement added.
This announcement follows growing concerns from stakeholders in the entertainment sector, who have raised red flags about persistent copyright violations by several television stations in recent months.
The Copyright Office reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of Ghanaian creatives and ensuring that intellectual property laws are enforced to protect the future of the industry.
