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Book pirates in trouble

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Publishers have introduced security-tags on newly approved school set-books to prevent fraud

Traders dealing in pirated books have been dealt a huge blow after publishers introduced security-tags on newly approved school set-books to prevent fraud. The move came as Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) called on the government to make piracy an economic crime with stiffer penalties.

“First and second offenders should be fined Sh400,000 and Sh800,000 or 10 years imprisonment or both, respectively,” said KPA chair and anti-piracy sub-committee chair Simon Sossion.

Nonetheless, parents, teachers and students can now verify authenticity of books using mobiles by sending a unique number affixed to the books. The reader scratches the ‘CHKTAG’ affixed to the books to reveal the PIN and sends it to the association’s SMS short code 22776.

Speaking at the launch on Monday, Sossion exuded confidence the security feature will help consumers buy authentic books from publishers. “Book buyers will now have the opportunity to instantly determine if books they are buying are genuine,” he said. Although the tags have initially been applied on KCSE Literature and Kiswahili set-books to tame piracy, they are now being rolled on all books by KPA member publishers.

It has emerged that more than 50 per cent of set books in high school are counterfeited. A study by KPA has revealed that 70 per cent of counterfeited books contain wrong information and use substandard material.

Approved setbooks

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has approved four set books for literature in English and Kiswahili for the period 2017-2021. They include, The Pearl (John Steinbeck), Memories We Lost and Other Stories (Chris Wanjala) for English and Kigogo (Pauline Kea Kyovi) and Tumbo Lisiloshiba and Hadithi Nyingine (Alifa Chokocho and Dumu Kiyanda) for Kiswahili. (People Daily)

[crp]




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