By Irene Medina Friday, September 7 2007

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Akon...

The Copyright Association of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) is urging political parties who are using music as part of their advertising campaign in the run-up to the General Election to get the necessary licenses.

COTT’s president Allison Demas says “this applies for all music at live events as well as in advertisements.”

She added, “we are also appealing to all the political parties to use local music in all the various events so that our local song writers and music publishers can benefit.”

Demas’ warning comes in the wake of possible action against the UNC Alliance for using the music of internationally acclaimed singer Thiam Aliaune, more popularly known as “Akon” who became headline news in TT for gyrating on stage with Danah Alleyne, the teenaged daughter of a pastor.

The UNC Alliance has been using Akon’s popular “Sorry, Blame it on me,” in which he apologised to Alleyne, to attack the ruling People’s National Movement.

Ross Advertising who is said to be responsible for the ad refused to comment on the issue yesterday.Demas is cautioning all advertising agencies to ensure that they have all the music clearances and licenses necessary so as not to breach copyright laws.

She also added that COTT spoke with Akon’s publishers Sony /ATV who “confirmed that they did not give any clearance for that song to be used in any political campaign.”

Executive member of the UNC Alliance,Vasant Bharath, contacted yesterday said he was out of the country and will take care of any problems when he gets back.