Updated 29 October 2026
Quick answer: in Kenya you register copyright online with the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) on its National Rights Registry portal, nrr.copyright.go.ke. You create an individual or corporate account with your phone number, national ID number, KRA PIN and email, confirm a validation code, then upload your work in five steps and wait for your certificate. Registration is voluntary: KECOBO says copyright protects your work automatically once it exists in a concrete form, but the certificate gives you public proof of ownership that helps in disputes, licensing and royalty collection.
This guide covers who can register, what works qualify, the step-by-step process, who owns copyright in common situations and how long protection lasts, all from KECOBO’s own website and brochure, read on 25 October 2026.
Do You Need to Register Copyright in Kenya?
No. KECOBO states that copyright is vested in a work once it is in a concrete form, without registration, and that not registering does not take away any rights under the Copyright Act. KECOBO keeps a register because the Act requires it to maintain a data bank of authors and their works. Registration is still worth doing because, according to KECOBO, the certificate:
- acts as a public record of who the author or owner is;
- serves as evidence of ownership in court, shifting the burden of proof to the other side;
- may be used as collateral with a bank or other lender;
- makes licensing and selling (assigning) the rights easier; and
- helps auditors and valuers identify a company’s intellectual property.
Who Can Register and What Works Qualify
Anyone who owns copyright or took part in producing a work can register: authors, composers, producers, performers, and anyone to whom rights have been assigned or licensed. KECOBO lists these types of work:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Literary works | Books, novels, poems, plays, film scripts, articles, lyrics, sheet music |
| Computer programs and databases | Software, apps, databases (KECOBO publishes software documentation guidelines) |
| Artistic works | Paintings, drawings, photographs, graphics, sculpture |
| Architectural works | Building designs and plans |
| Sound recordings | Songs and other recordings |
| Films and audio-visual works | Films, series, video content |
Copyright protects the expression, not an idea, a business name or a logo’s trade use. Business names are registered with the Business Registration Service; see how to check and reserve a business name.
What You Need Before You Start
- A mobile phone number for the activation code
- A valid national ID number
- A KRA PIN (individual or company)
- A business registration number, if opening a corporate account
- A valid email address
- A digital copy of the work to upload, plus any contracts or licences that show ownership
How to Register Copyright: Step by Step
- Open the portal. Go to nrr.copyright.go.ke on a computer or smartphone and choose an individual or corporate account.
- Create your account. Enter your details, receive the validation code, enter it and finish setting up the account.
- Owner details. Fill in the primary details of the copyright owner. These are printed on the certificate, so match them to your ID.
- Work details and upload. Enter the category, sub-category, title, genre, language, label and release date, then upload the work.
- Authors and shares. Add every author and give each a percentage share of ownership.
- Supporting documents. Upload any contract, licence or other proof of ownership. KECOBO says you can skip this step if you have none.
- Review and submit. Check everything, then click Register Copyright. You will be notified when the process is complete and told to await your certificate.
KECOBO’s registration pages and brochure do not show a fee; any charge is displayed in the portal before you pay. For help, the portal lists 0791 399 159 and nrr@copyright.go.ke.
Who Owns the Copyright?
| Situation | First owner under the law, per KECOBO |
|---|---|
| You created the work | You, the creator |
| Two people created it together | Both, as joint authors |
| Made for an employer or under a commission | The employer or the person who commissioned it, unless the contract says otherwise |
| A film | The principal director and the producer, jointly |
| A sound recording | The record producer |
| A broadcast | The broadcaster |
| A published edition | The publisher |
| Made by a government department | The Government |
If you hire a designer, photographer or developer, put ownership in a written contract. Our guide on getting your domain back from a web designer shows why owning your assets matters.
How Long Copyright Lasts in Kenya
| Type of work | Protection period |
|---|---|
| Literary, musical or artistic works (other than photographs) | Life of the author plus 50 years |
| Audio-visual works and photographs | 50 years from the end of the year the work was made, first made public or first published, whichever is latest |
| Sound recordings | 50 years after the end of the year of recording |
| Broadcasts | 50 years after the end of the year of broadcast |
After that, the work enters the public domain.
Royalties for Musicians and Creators
The registry is one part of a system that also handles licensing, media monitoring and royalty distribution through collective management organisations. Registering, and recording each contributor’s share, helps make sure you are counted when royalties are shared out. Creators earning online should also read how to make money on TikTok in Kenya.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is copyright registration compulsory in Kenya?
No. Protection is automatic, but a KECOBO certificate is useful evidence of ownership.
Where do I register copyright in Kenya?
Online at the National Rights Registry, nrr.copyright.go.ke, run by KECOBO.
What do I need to register?
A phone number, national ID number, KRA PIN, email, and for companies a business registration number, plus the work itself.
Can I register a song with several contributors?
Yes. You list every author and assign each a percentage share of ownership.
Last checked 25 October 2026 on copyright.go.ke (Copyright Registration page and National Rights Registry brochure) and nrr.copyright.go.ke. General information, not legal advice.
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