Register copyright for music, books, software or art (KECOBO)
Kenya Copyright Board · sources read 1 Oct 2026
Create an account on KECOBO's National Rights Registry (nrr.copyright.go.ke), upload your work and fill in the owner and author details, then click 'register copyright'. Registration is voluntary: your work is protected from the moment it exists in concrete form.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Online on the National Rights Registry (nrr.copyright.go.ke). KECOBO office: 5th Floor, NHIF Building, Ragati Road/Ngong Road, Nairobi
What you need
- Your valid national ID number
- A KRA PIN (individual or company)
- A mobile number for the activation code, and a working email
- For a company account: the business registration number
- Optional: any contract or licence that shows you own the work
Steps
- Go to nrr.copyright.go.ke on your phone or computer and create an individual or corporate account.
- Enter the validation code you receive to finish creating the account, then log in.
- Fill in the owner's details, then the work's details (category, title, genre, language, release date) and upload the work.
- Add each author and give them their percentage share of the work. Upload any contract or licence if you have one.
- Review everything and click 'register copyright'. You'll be told when it's done and to wait for your certificate.
Watch out
- Registration is voluntary. You still have full copyright without it, but the certificate is evidence of ownership if there's a dispute in court.
- For books, music and art (other than photos), copyright lasts for the author's life plus 50 years.
- You can edit your registered works and print or reprint your certificate any time from your portal account.
Who can apply
- Anyone who owns copyright or helped make the work: authors, composers, producers, performers, or someone the rights were assigned or licensed to.
- Works you can register include sound recordings, books and other writing, computer programs and databases, artwork and photos, architectural works, and films.
Official sources (4)
- Copyright Registration copyright.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Understanding the National Rights Registry (Copyright Registration Brochure) copyright.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Contact Us copyright.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Kenya National Rights Registry Portal nrr.copyright.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026