Last week, on the occasion of the feast of music, Jean Mario Dupuy, the Minister of Culture expressed his views on the issue of respect of copyright in Haiti "[...] We want to say to the creators, all musicians and all producers [...] that very quickly protective measures of our artists will be taken [...] because if today we can make a beautiful Carnival, it is because we have musicians who produce, that make beautiful music, beautiful meringues etc... [...] This is quite logical and normal, at musicians, who produce these works with their talents, which enrich the country's heritage are protected. Protection is needed to enable them to live of their works.

We ask the cooperation of the entire population, so they understand that. I'm sure 99% of Haitians do not enter a supermarket to serve without pay, everyone agrees to say that this is a theft and no one wants to have his name attached to that. But do you know that when you take a CD of a band or artist and you make a copy to listen without paying anything... do you know that this is also a theft ?

And if in addition, after copying and listened it, while you'd to pay something, to allow the artist to live, you also sell the music at that time, you make money on the back of someone with a product you've done nothing... It's unfair, not only morally, but legally it is not correct.

So there is a set of provisions, of measures that we will have the opportunity to announce soon and already we ask the cooperation of the public so they understand, that this is not just the state they will help, they will help those [...] that make us dance, gives us fun, people who make music in the music show etc... This is because these musicians are, that we have all these great opportunities,so we have to accompany and protect them [...]."

S/ HaitiLibre