MultiChoice partners COSOMA in launching long-term initiative to combat piracy in protection of the creative economy

* Completes intensive anti-piracy training and enforcement action in Lilongwe facilitated by Malawi Police Service and Ministry of Justice

* The capacity-building initiative bore immediate fruit as on Wednesday, May 21, an enforcement operation raided an illegal internet streaming operation

* Two suspects were arrested, and several hundred pieces of pirate streaming equipment were seized

By Duncan Mlanjira

MultiChoice Africa, in collaboration with the Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA), have successfully completed the first-ever anti-piracy training and enforcement operation in Malawi — marking the beginning of a long-term initiative to combat piracy and protect the creative economy.

A media statement indicates that MultiChoice, COSOMA and the Malawi Police Service hosted an intensive anti-piracy training session from Tuesday, May 20, in Lilongwe — attended by 21 participants, including police prosecutors and representatives from the Ministry of Justice.

“The training covered key topics such as the types of piracy, enforcement techniques, legal frameworks and the growing threat of internet streaming piracy,” says the statement.

“This capacity-building initiative bore immediate fruit — On May 21, a successful enforcement operation was carried out in Lilongwe acting on intelligence and strategies discussed during the training.

“The Malawi Police Service, with support from COSOMA, raided an illegal internet streaming operation where two suspects were arrested, and several hundred pieces of pirate streaming equipment were seized.”

The raid, according to MultiChoice, was to alert the public that internet streaming piracy is a crime as “it significantly undermines the creative industry by diverting revenue from content producers, broadcasters, and legitimate service providers”.

“These illegal operations lead to substantial losses in tax revenue for governments, impeding national development and funding for public services.

“Consumers who engage with pirate streaming services are also exposed to numerous risks — these platforms often distribute malware, spyware, and other harmful software, potentially compromising users’ personal data, financial information, and digital security.

“Moreover, there are no guarantees around the quality, reliability, or safety of content accessed through illegal platforms,” says the statement.

According to Rachael Kabango, COSOMA’s assistant licensing officer the Copyright Act, Section 113 subsection 4(B), indicates that “any person who has in his possession any machinery or other devices with the intention of using such devices to produce infringing copies commits an offense and shall be liable to a fine of MWK10,000,000 and imprisonment for four years, in the case of a continuing offense, to a further fine of MWK50,000 for each day during which the offence continues”.

On his part, Frikkie Jonker MultiChoice Group Africa anti-piracy director, is quoted as saying: “This raid is a testament to what can be achieved through strong partnerships and dedicated training.

“We are proud of the collaboration with the Malawi Police Service and COSOMA and commend them for their swift action and commitment to enforcement.

“This is the first of many efforts to come in Malawi, and we look forward to supporting more initiatives that strengthen content protection and uphold the rule of law.”

The statement further says the success of the anti-piracy initiative “underscores the need for continued collaboration in tackling piracy at its roots [and that] MultiChoice remains committed to working alongside local authorities and stakeholders to protect the rights of content creators and ensure a safe, legal, and vibrant entertainment ecosystem in Malawi and across Africa”.

MultiChoice Group is Africa’s leading entertainment company, delivering premium content to over 20 million households across 50 countries.

As part of its mission to support and grow the continent’s creative industries, MultiChoice maintains that it leads anti-piracy efforts through education, legal enforcement, and industry partnerships.