A Kenyan judge refused to pause a tribunal ruling that stopped the Music Copyright Society of Kenya from collecting royalties after the group lost its license. Justice Linus Kassan pushed the case hearing out to mid-2026, leaving MCSK unable to operate in one of its main functions while the legal battle drags on.
MCSK tried to challenge both the tribunal decision and an earlier move by the Kenya Copyright Board that denied its license renewal. The copyright board said the society failed to submit proper paperwork and noted that two other organizations already got licenses to handle royalty collection. The board also pointed out that recent court cases threw out tariff regulations because of bad public participation, which basically means there were no valid rates for collecting royalties anyway.
MCSK argued that the board messed up by rejecting its application over technicalities about annual returns and audited accounts. The whole dispute lands back in court next summer.
MCSK tried to challenge both the tribunal decision and an earlier move by the Kenya Copyright Board that denied its license renewal. The copyright board said the society failed to submit proper paperwork and noted that two other organizations already got licenses to handle royalty collection. The board also pointed out that recent court cases threw out tariff regulations because of bad public participation, which basically means there were no valid rates for collecting royalties anyway.
MCSK argued that the board messed up by rejecting its application over technicalities about annual returns and audited accounts. The whole dispute lands back in court next summer.
