Burkina faso: The Burkinabe Copyright Office (BBDA) initiated a training session on May 11 and 12, 2026, in Ziniare for about twenty journalists on copyright and collective management, aiming to enhance their capacities to effectively raise awareness and promote copyright in Burkina Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Director General of the BBDA, Dr. Hamed dit Patindeba Patric Lega, emphasized that this initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration between the institution and the media to improve public awareness of intellectual property issues. He highlighted the challenges posed by digital transformations and artificial intelligence, which expose works to unregulated uses. In this context, he noted the essential role of media in relaying information, raising awareness, shaping public opinion, and promoting good practices.
Over two days, journalists participated in four training modules. The first module, focusing on the environment of collective management of copyright and related rights, was led by the Secretary General of the BBDA, Chantal Kabore/Forgo. The second module, covering general principles of copyright law, was presented by the director of operations, collection, and legal affairs at BBDA, Mineta Y¨ Soma. The third module, developed by Delphine Some/Zongo, Director of General Documentation and Distribution at BBDA, focused on copyright documentation and redress mechanisms. The fourth module, related to cultural promotion and social security policy of BBDA members, was delivered by Dr. Hamed dit Patindeba Patric Lega.
The sessions included discussions that helped journalists understand the fundamentals of copyright and related rights, the missions of the BBDA, collective management mechanisms, and cultural promotion policies. These discussions also provided insights into the legal framework of literary and artistic property in Burkina Faso and the challenges related to digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Through this training, the BBDA aims to enhance the quality of media coverage on issues related to copyright and collective management while strengthening public awareness of creators' rights. At the session's close, Chantal Kabore/Forgo, representing the Director General, lauded the relevance of questions during the discussions, which clarified several grey areas and provided BBDA with avenues for improvement in its mission of collective management of copyright and related rights.
She noted that this session is a first step, with more training sessions to follow to better promote awareness of mechanisms for protecting works and the missions of the BBDA. Ms. Kabore also encouraged journalists to relay the information received to raise awareness among rights holders about their rights and the transparent functioning of collective management in Burkina Faso.