According to a letter posted by the agency, the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) “has received complaints from several entities concerning the infringement of their works online and through social media platforms notably on Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp.
“Information available indicates that several Facebook and WhatsApp groups have been formed for the sole purpose of sharing e-newspapers, popular TV content, movies and pirate subscription codes. There are also persons offering pirate PDF or soft copies of books. Similarly, other websites offer illegal pirate live streams affecting live football broadcast signals.
The letter was posted “to inform the public that these acts constitute an infringement under the Copyright Act more particularly the exclusive right of making available, offering for sale and rental infringing Copyright works.
“Also note that any person who circumvents technological protection measures designed to prevent unauthorized access to works protected under the Copyright Act is guilty of copyright infringement. Further, manufacturers and distributors of devices or software used for the purpose of circumventing technological protection measures are equally guilty of an offence under the Copyright Act
“BE WARNED that under the Copyright Act, any person found committing the above offences shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Kenya Shillings Five Hundred Thousand Only (KShs 500,000.00 – equivalent to about US$3,861.00) or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years or both.
“KECOBO, in conjunction with the Communication Authority of Kenya is working closely with the social media platforms, has commenced investigations on these incidences with a view to close down and pursue legal action against owners of infringing social media accounts. Infringement of Copyright attracts both criminal and civil liability for those found culpable.
“This is, therefore, to inform the public of the ongoing pirate activities and warn them against engaging in the same since they undermine respect for Intellectual Property Rights of right holders and the ability for them to make a decent living from their creative works. This also exposes innocent users to the risk of providing personal information and data to persons who may use it for illegal purpose.
“Meanwhile, KECOBO welcomes any information that may lead to the arrest of perpetrators of piracy via social media. You can reach out to us on our hotline number 0703885033 or info@copyright.go.ke
(Posted by)
George Nyakweba
Ag. Executive Director
KENYA COPYRIGHT BOARD
31st January 2025
Original post
Advisory on Online Copyright Policy. Open letter. January 31, 2025. Kenya Copyright Board
Why it matters
While it’s tempting to ask whether a tree fell in the forest if nobody heard it, notices such as these are important components of any multi-faceted anti-piracy campaign; to honor an obligation to keep the public informed.
