“Piracy Is Not Victimless”: USPTO Tells Zimbabwe Artists How To Monetize Music On TikTok, YouTube, Spotify

By Ross Moyo

Zimbabwe’s music industry is blowing up on TikTok, YouTube and Spotify, but piracy remains the biggest barrier to earning.

That was the question put to Catherine Hiner, Intellectual Property Attaché for Sub-Saharan Africa at the US Patent and Trademark Office during a digital press briefing hosted by the US Africa Regional Media Hub in Johannesburg by Ross Moyo, TechnoMag’s tech reporter.

“Zimbabwe’s music industry on platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Spotify is growing fast. But piracy remains huge. What specific IP Tools can the USPTO offer African artists to monetize and protect music internationally?”

Hiner said: “One of the best tools that we’re facilitators. We bring together government officials, industry and local creators. We work across borders with our law enforcement agencies, the IPR Centre, to help have fulsome conversations and reinforce the importance to governments about the need to invest in those systems to address piracy and other digital age issues.”

Hiner said piracy is not “victimless” but “dangerous” and often funds organized crime. She stressed that strong IP systems, education for the public, and enforcement are key to helping African artists capture revenue from streaming.