The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) in Liberia recently
took drastic action against piracy by shutting down businesses
offering local and international pirated goods, related primarily
to the entertainment industry. The aim is to get rid of any
black-market goods altogether.
Piracy is considered a serious offence in the territory, with
sanctions such as fines, imprisonment and even deportation in
certain instances.
Apart from the fact that piracy discourages creators to register
their works at the Copyright office, the bigger picture is the loss
of revenue caused by piracy, which is not limited to Liberia.
Taking action and resorting to even drastic measures to curb
piracy, educate and protect the rights of creative people, have now
become standard practice in the territory!