The High Court has upheld a previous ruling by the Copyright Tribunal regarding music copyright licenses, reaffirming that the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) and the Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) hold the only valid licenses for copyright and related rights.
In a ruling delivered on March 3, 2025, the court referred the ongoing dispute over licensing back to the Copyright Tribunal, reinforcing its earlier decision to annul the PAVRISK license issued by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO).
The tribunal had previously ruled that PAVRISK is not a legally recognised Collective Management Organization (CMO).
In a statement seen by KBC Digital, MCSK has urged all music users to comply with the court’s directive and ensure they obtain valid licenses for the use of copyrighted works.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the court directed that all matters under dispute be referred back to the Copyright Tribunal,” Dr Ezekiel Mutua said. “As such, there’s no legal entity known as PAVRISK. We urge all music users to comply and pay for usage of music and copyrighted works in line with the directive of the court.”
The organisation also cautioned against misinformation from unofficial sources and encouraged stakeholders to refer to the official court ruling.
CEO of MCSK, Dr. Ezekiel Mutua concluded by reiterating the organisation’s commitment to fair and equitable copyright administration in Kenya.
“We appreciate the trust and support of our members and stakeholders as we continue advocating for fair and equitable copyright administration in Kenya.”
