In Kenya Copyright Society loses licence to collect royalties.

The Music Copyright Society of Kenya has lost the licence to collect music royalties.

Maurice Okoth, MCSK Boss.

This follows the decision by the board of directors of Kenya Copyright Board on Monday to approve the licensing of a new body, Music Publishers Association of Kenya Limited, to collect royalties on behalf of authors, composers and publishers from March 2017 to February 2018, effective immediately.

“The decision was made after the new association satisfied the requirements of Section 46 of the Copyright Act, 2001, and Regulation 15 and 16 of the Copyright Regulations 2004,” read a statement from Kecobo sent to newsrooms.

This means that the embattled MCSK will have to wait for a year to apply for the license. The organisation has been embroiled in controversy with artistes who accuse it of never remitting monies collected for years.

MCSK’s boss Maurice Okoth was suspended in March last year over corruption claims though he was later acquitted.

The copyright board revoked MCSK’s license in February after its officials failed to submit their audited financial statements and amounts paid in royalties to their members.

Photo:Google.com.
Credit www.nation.co.ke