Trial Date Set for Trio Embroiled in Copyright Infringement Case
Ms.Faith Ndegwe 51, Mr.\r\nJames Kategere 38, and Mr. Sulaiman Rashad 21 on Thursday October 10th,\r\n2013, appeared before trial magistrate His Worship Mr. Simon Kintu Zirintuusa\r\nat Buganda Road Court to answer charges of copyright breach. The suspects are\r\naccused of selling pirated copies of books and secondary school test papers to\r\ncustomers without the authorization of the copyright owner, Mr. Ibrahim\r\nSemaganda.
\r\n\r\n
The Grade one\r\nmagistrate set the date after the state prosecutor, Mr. David Lukwago admitted\r\nthat the investigation into the matter was complete and ready for trial.\r\nProsecution led by Lukwago alleges that the trio committed the offence on\r\nSeptember 18, 2013. They all pleaded not guilty to the crime.
\r\n\r\n
Prosecution also alleges that the suspects at Nakasero\r\nMarket printed, photocopied and sold duplicated copies of UNEB past papers\r\n(UCE) and UACE physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics books without the\r\nauthorization of the copyright owner. It is alleged that the suspects sold\r\nduplicated books to shop centers such as City Park bookshop, Nkwangala\r\nBookshop, Parents Bookshop, T and F Bookshop, and Kampala Central bookshop.
\r\n\r\n
The suspects were\r\ncharged with infringement of Copyrights and Neighboring Rights Act 2006\r\ncontrary to section 46 and 47 of the penal code.
\r\n\r\n
The suspects are out on a cash bail of sh2.5m each after\r\npresenting two substantial sureties who were bonded at sh5m each not cash. The\r\nsuspects if found guilty could serve a maximum sentence of over five years in\r\njail or forced to compensate the author of the book. The police however is\r\nstill on the hunt for ten other suspects who escaped from the book shops.
\r\n\r\n
The Case was\r\nadjourned to 24th October, 2013.
Posted 11th, October 2013
