NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – The Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya (PAVRISK) has been authorised to collect royalties on behalf of music rights holders following the three-month suspension of the Copyright and Related Rights Limited (KAMP) by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO).
In a notice, KECOBO directed that PAVRISK will collect royalties for rights ordinarily administered by KAMP under the existing licensing framework during the suspension period.
However, the regulator said all revenue collected must be kept in a separate bank account and held in trust pending further directions.
“All monies collected in respect of such right shall be deposited into a separate designated bank account, maintained independently from PAVRlSK’s operational and distributable funds,” KECOBO said.
The board added that the funds must not be distributed, transferred or used for any purpose until it issues further written instructions on their management and eventual distribution.
The directive follows KECOBO’s decision last week to suspend KAMP’s licence for three months after a regulatory review into the collective management organisation’s governance and operations.
According to the regulator, the review examined KAMP’s governance, financial management, royalty administration, licensing practices, regulatory compliance and overall performance as a licensed Collective Management Organisation.
KAMP has protested the suspension, disputing the decision, which followed allegations of financial mismanagement within the organisation.
