Funeral homes warned over unlicensed music use

Funeral operators may need to get licences before playing music during funeral services or while transporting the deceased, the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) has said.

This comes after M’uambo Musical Works CC (MMW CC), owned by Peter Ambambi, issued a notice to undertakers warning them against using its music without permission and threatening legal action against those who continue to do so.

Nascam acting chief executive Ferdinand Gertze says copyright law applies when music is played in public.

“Under Namibian copyright law, where the playing of music amounts to a public performance under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Protection Act, prior authorisation from the copyright owner or the authorised collective management organisation is generally required,” Gertze says.

He says the issue is not about funerals specifically, but about how music is used.