Registering a copyright for your work whether literary, musical, artistic affords you exclusive right to print, publish, perform, or record any literary, artistic musical and authorize others to do the same. In Kenya the law governing copyright is the copyright Act and it makes it an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment to infringe on another person’s copyright.

1. Registration of Copyright in
Kenya

2. Copyrights
• Registering a copyright for your work whether
literary, musical, artistic affords you exclusive
right to print, publish, perform, or record any
literary, artistic musical and authorize others to
do the same.
• In Kenya the law governing copyright is the
copyright Act and it makes it an offence
punishable by fine or imprisonment to infringe on
another person’s copyright.

3. Copyrights
To whom can copyright be conferred to?
(a) an individual who is a citizen of, or is
domiciled or resident in, Kenya; or
(b) a body corporate which is incorporated
under or in accordance with the laws of Kenya.

4. Types of copyright works
• Literary work which includes:
– novels, stories and poetical works;
– plays, stage directions, film sceneries and
broadcasting scripts;
– textbooks, treatises, histories, biographies, essays
and articles;
– encyclopedias and dictionaries;
– letters, reports and memoranda;
– lectures, addresses and sermons, but does not
include a written law or judicial decision;

5. Types of copyright works
• Musical work
• Artistic works which include:
– paintings, drawings, etchings, lithographs, woodcuts and
prints;
– maps, plans and diagrams;
– works of sculpture;
– photographs;
– works of architecture in the form of buildings or models
– works of artistic craftsmanship, pictorial woven tissues and
articles of applied handicraft and industrial art;

6. Registration procedure
Copyright registration procedure
• The Kenya Copyright Board registers copyright works of
musical, audio visual, literary and artistic nature.
Requirements for registration of a copyright
• The work must be of original authorship.
• The work should also be in tangible format, including
digital format
• Two copies (one if in digital format) of the work should be
submitted with the application form
• Application forms duly filled and commissioned by a
Commissioner of Oaths

7. Procedure for registration of copyright
in Kenya
• Submit the filled application form
accompanied with the registration fee.
• A certificate will be issued if the application is
successful.

8. Useful links
• http://www.copyright.go.ke/

9. Contact us
Capita Registrars
Royal Offices
Mogotio Rd, Westlands
P.O. Box 101795 00101
NAIROBI
www.capitaregistrars.co.ke
info@capitaregistrars.co.ke