As of July 1, the Kenya Copyright Board (Kecobo) will resume charging for copyright registration, a timely reminder to take advantage of the free registration window that ends on June 30.
According to Kecobo, the charges will be based on the legal person applying, with natural persons (individuals) paying Sh100 per work and corporate entities (limited liability companies, associations, and registered business names) paying Sh500 per work.
Additionally, Kecobo will resume charging for other related services, including change of ownership of copyright and requests for copies of lost or destroyed certificates.
To register a copyright, individuals can sign in or sign up on the National Rights Registry Portal (NRR) and create an account. They can then register categories of works, such as audiovisual, artistic, literary, and sound recordings, and upload the work they want to register.
Once the application is submitted, individuals will receive a notification via email and text that their application is being reviewed. If approved, they will be notified to download their copyright certificate from their NRR account.
Registering a copyright provides several benefits, including proof of ownership, ease of commercializing intellectual property, and a basis for legal remedies when others use the copyright without permission.
