COTT alerts music ‘pirates’ about intended prosecution

Illegal music vendors were put on alert for intended prosecution when officials of the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) and police officers visited several pirates in downtown Port-of-Spain yesterday, to hand-deliver letters requesting them to desist from selling unauthorised music. The letters headed Notice of Copyright Infringement states: “The Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) has reliable information that you and/or your agents have infringed copyright in the music administered by COTT and are therefore in direct violation of the Copyright Act of Trinidad and Tobago No. 8 of 1997.

“It has been brought to our attention that you and your agents possess in the course of your business CDs, DVDs, and other articles containing music administered by COTT which you know or ought to know, or have reason to believe are made without the authorisation of COTT and which constitute an infringement of copyright. “COTT hereby demands that you and your agents cease and desist with immediate effect all unauthorised acts involving music administered by COTT. Your failure to do so immediately will result in legal proceedings being instituted against you and or your agents without further notice.” The letter was singed by COTT’s CEO Allison Demas. This comes in the wake of the ongoing piracy of local music during the Carnival season. After consulting with several lawyers and because of several “loopholes” in the Act the above letter was drafted.