Question of copyright laws raised at Arts Fest Fono hearing
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
The administration is working on 'copyright' legislation to be submitted to the Fono for approval, hopefully before the 10th Pacific Arts Festival gets underway on July 20.
Copyright of the festival events and activities including broadcasting the event live throughout the region was raised by Sen. Pulefaasisina Tuiasosopo during Thursday's Fono joint hearing about festival preparations.
Officials of the organizing committee told lawmakers that copyright of the festival is a concern of the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC), as in past festival events and six countries under SPC now have copyright law in place, but American Samoa is not one of them.
Committee co-chair Fagafaga Daniel Langkilde said SPC is concerned with the protection of rights of the festival because of people taking photos or video and reproducing them to make money.
He said the committee is working with the Attorney General's Office for a bill to be submitted to the Fono dealing with copyright law with the hope that a law will be in place before the festival.
Reportedly, the SPC has submitted to ASG draft legislation dealing with copyright law.
As to broadcasting the event live throughout the region, Fagafaga said they hope this can be done, adding that KVZK-TV with the help of the American Samoa TeleCommunications Authority can carry the event live, but one set-back is the lack of funding.
Sen. Salanoa Aumoeualogo, an attorney by profession, said the committee should ask the AG's Office to expedite this bill for submission to the Fono before the current legislative session ends next month.
He said that unless the governor calls a special session (between March and July), and includes a copyright law in the agenda, there will be no time for lawmakers to discuss and pass a measure.
Lawmakers were told that because American Samoa currently does not have copyright law, the committee has informed SPC that American Samoa will have to use federal copyright law at this point in time. Federal law will also be used during the festival if a copyright law is not in place locally.
The festival committee was also asked about its preparations for dealing with health issues during the festival. Committee co-chair Leala Pili said the governor has written to the military for medical assistance during the two-week festival.
Additionally, the committee is also working with LBJ Medical Center and the Department of Health to make sure all health needs are met, Leala said.
She noted that the committee is also working with participating countries to make sure their delegations have completed health checks before arriving in Pago Pago.
Lawmakers also wanted to know what role the office of Samoan Affairs is playing in the preparations of the festival. Deputy secretary Nanai Afuola said they are working with each village for continued clean-up as well as with the First Lady's Beautification Committee.
He said Samoan Affairs is also responsible for the construction of the 'faleo'o' along Utulei Beach and all traditional ceremonial activities.
Reach the reporter at fili@samoanews.com
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