BACKGROUND & ROLE

The Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) was established in 1992 under section 41 of the Malawi Copyright Act of 1989. Its main function is to promote and protect creativity. COSOMA falls under the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture. The mandates of COSOMA under section 42 of the Copyright Act, 1989 are as follows: -

• To promote and protect the interests of authors, performers, translators, producers of sound recordings, broadcasters, publishers and in particular to collect and distribute any royalties or other remuneration accruing to them in respect of their rights provided for in the Copyright Act of 1989;
• To maintain registers of works, productions and associations of authors, performers, translators, producers of sound recordings, broadcasters and publishers;
• To publicise the rights of owners and give evidence of the ownership of these where there is dispute or an infringement.
• To print, publish, issue or circulate any information, report, periodical, book, pamphlet, leaflets any other material relating to copyright, expression of folklore, rights of broadcasters, performers and producers of sound recordings; and
• To advise the Minister on all matters related to copyright.