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Theatre Arts for Advanced Secondary Schools
Copyright
Copyright is a form of legal protection granted to the owners of the original
works, such as dance, music and drama. It provides owners with exclusive
rights to control the reproduction, distribution, performance and adaptation
of their works for a certain period of time. It grants artists exclusive rights to
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
reproduce, distribute, perform, display and create derived works based on their
original theatrical works. The purpose of copyright is to encourage creativity
and innovation by allowing theatre artists or artists in general to benefit from
their works, whether financially or otherwise. Copyrighted works include books,
scripts, articles, paintings, photographs, music compositions, films, software
code and more.
Importance of copyright in artistic endeavours
Copyrighting artistic works is important to protect artistic works from
infringement. However, the majority of theatre artists in Tanzania, do not have
a culture of protecting their works through copyright. Copyrighting theatrical
works is important in the following aspects.
(a) Copyright protects original works: Copyright law grants theatre artists
exclusive rights to their original scripts, plays, musical compositions
and other creative pursuits. Copyright prevents unauthorised people and
distributors from using their works without permission.
(b) Financial gain: Copyright allows theatre artists to benefit financially from
their creative activities. By controlling the rights to their works, artists can
negotiate licensing agreements, sell performance rights and receive fees
for the use of their plays or performances. This financial compensation is
essential for development of their career and for improving their lives and
that of their families.
(c) Integrity: Copyright protection helps maintain the integrity and reputation
of theatre artists’ works. It allows theatre artists to prevent unnecessary
changes and alterations of their original works, thereby protecting their
artistic mission and vision.
(d) Creativity and innovation: Copyright encourages theatre artists to create
new and original works by providing them with legal protection and
motivation. Knowing that their intellectual property is protected, artists
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