A Study of the Legal Framework of Protecting Copyrights in Hargeisa Region of Somaliland

ABSTRACT This study focused on the legal framework of protecting copyrights in Hargesia region in Somaliland. To achieve general objective of the study, five specified objectives were set and these included: The study focused on the legal framework of protecting copyrights in Hargesia region in Somaliland; to examine the international and national historical development of copyrights in Somaliland; to examine the legal framework in place that protects copyright protection in Hargeisa region in Somaliland; to examine the benefits and challenge of copyright protection in Hargeisa region in Somaliland; to carry out a comparative analysis with reference to the laws governing copyrights in Uganda and; to draw conclusions and recommendations. This study used qualitative research methods from various secondary data collection methods were used such as library research study on books and cases. All ethical considerations were also highly valued in this study. Analyzing was done considering in different laws were backed by qualitative analysis through legal perspectives. The research findings indicated that there is a lack of protection and promoting of copyright ownership in Somaliland, were relevant authorities are not effective. It also discovered there gaps of the Somali Act compared to Ugandan Act. It was found the positive way of lesson learned in Uganda. It was concluded that Somali land government fails to accord legal protection to owners of copyright. It was recommended that Somaliland government should try to review the importance of copyright and make sure the Copyright Act confirms to the international standards like Berne Convention and TRIPS Agreement and other international convention concerned with copyright.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 

DECLARATION A .................................................................................................................. .i 

DECLARATION B ................................................................................................................. ii 

APPROVAL SHEET ............................................................................................................. iii 

DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................... .iv 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ....................................................................................................... v 

LIST OF CASES .................................................................................................................... .ix 

TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................... xii 

CHAPTER ONE ..................................................................................................................... l 

1.0 Introduction of the Study .................................................................................................... I 

1.1 Background of the Study .................................................................................................... 1 

1.2 Problem Statement ............................................................................................................. 2 

1.3 Objectives of the Study ...................................................................................................... 3 

1.3.1 The General Objective ............................................................................................... 3 

1.3.2 Specific Objectives .................................................................................................... 4 

1.4 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 4 

1.5 Scope ofthe Study ......................................................................................................... 4 

1.5.1 Geographical Scope ................................................................................................... 4 

1.5.2 Content Scope ................................................................................................................. 5 

1.5.3 Time Scope ...................................................................................................................... 5 

1.6 Significance ofthe Study .............................................................................................. 5 

1.7 Methodology of the Study ............................................................................................. 6 

1.8 LiteratureReview .......................................................................................................... 6 

1.9 Chapterization .................................................................................................................. 12 

xii 

CHAPTER TW0 .................................................................................................................. 14 

THE REGULATION, PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF COPYRIGHT IN 

SOMALILAND .................................................................................................................... 14 

2.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 14 

2.1 Historical Genesis of Copyright Protection ..................................................................... 14 

2.2 Historical Genesis of Copyright Protection in Somaliland .............................................. 18 

2.3 International Laws of Copyrights ..................................................................................... 20 

2.4 The Regional LaV and Standards ..................................................................................... 27 

2.4.1 ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organization) .................................... 27 

2.5 National Laws for Regulation of Copyrights in Somaliland ............................................ 28 

2.6 Copyright Law in Somalia 1977 ...................................................................................... 33 

2.7 Institutions for Managing Copyrights in Somaliland ....................................................... 34 

2.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 35 

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................. 36 

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE REGULATION Ai~D PROTECTION OF 

COPYRIGHT IN UGANDA ............................................................................................... 36 

3.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 36 

3.1 History of Uganda Copyright Law ................................................................................... 36 

3.2 Laws that Regulate, Protect Copyright in Uganda ........................................................... 38 

3.2.1 International Laws ......................................................................................................... 38 

3.2.2 National Laws ............................................................................................................... 40 

3.3 Institutions of Copyright Protection in Uganda ............................................................... 44 

3.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 48 

xiii 

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................... .49 

COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IN SOMALILAND ................................................... .49 

4.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 49 

4.1 Essence and Benefit of Copyright Protection Somaliland .............................................. .49 

4.2 Infringement of Copyrights .............................................................................................. 50 

4.2.1 Infringement Copyright Cases in Somaliland ............................................................... 51 

4.3 Challenges of Copyright in Somaliland ............................. , ............................................. 56 

4.3.1 Lack of Enforcement of Copyright in Somaliland ........................................................ 58 

4.4 Lessons Somaliland can learn From Uganda's laws and Institutions in Protecting 

Copyrights .............................................................................................................................. 61 

4.4.1 Good Lessons for Somaliland to Learn from Uganda ................................................... 63 

4.5 Somaliland Needs to Create a Regulation Body for Intellectual Property ....................... 65 

CHAPTER FIVE .................................................................................................................. 68 

CONCLUSION Al'ID RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................... 68 

5.1 Overview .......................................................................................................................... 68 

5.2 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 68 

5.3 Recommendations ............................................................................................................ 70 

BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................. 73