RIATT TTCAA meet with COTT

RIATT & TTCAA Meet with COTT

Tuesday 1st March 2011

The Recording Industry Association of T&T (RIATT) and the Trinidad and Tobago Chutney Artiste Association (TTCAA) recently met with the Copyright Organization of Trinidad & Tobago to discuss issues of copyright infringement with reference to the Trinidad and Tobago Chutney Soca Monarch.

The main issue of contention revolved around artistes entering the competition and qualifying for the semi finals and finals with songs containing elements of popular Bollywood and other International melodies. It is clearly stated in the rules of the competition, “artistes must sing their original song”; yet 80% of this year’s finalists did not meet this stipulation. The meeting was arranged to establish COTT’s position on this issue.

Copyright laws all over the world including Trinidad and Tobago states that authorization has to be granted from songwriters/rights owners for any translation, adaptation of original compositions before any recording and subsequent airplay takes place.

In conclusion, Mr. Colin Lucas, CEO of COTT made it clear that they were in no way condoning or sanctioning any instance of copyright infringement within the Chutney Soca Monarch or any other National competition.

For further information contact:
Fabien Alfonso
Email: info@riatt.org
1-868-707-0400