The Kenya Copyrights Board (KECOBO) has begun raiding websites showing copyrighted movies, shows, and football matches as part of a fresh crackdown in the country.
On Wednesday, KECOBO inspectors raided a joint in Makadara, Nairobi County, for showing copyrighted football content. According to the Board, the raid targeted identified pirates responsible for developing and hosting pirated websites offering live football matches exclusively belonging to Sky Sports and SuperSport channels.
"Kenya Copyright Board inspectors successfully conducted a raid in Makadara, Nairobi County."
"The raid targeted identified pirate responsible for developing and hosting a pirate website that offered unauthorized access to premier content by utilizing Sky Sports and SuperSport chan." the board revealed in a statement.
According to the Board, the suspect who was arrested will be investigated and arraigned in court after he was found to be showing football from a website by the name score808.us.
"The suspect will be arraigned in Court after investigations," added the statement.
The move by KECOBO came after Multichoice revealed that the Kenyan entertainment industry is suffering at the hands of pirates.
The firm’s Managing Director (MD) Nzola Miranda stated that the firm is losing a lot through unscrupulous links that provide exclusive content.
“Streaming piracy is growing. We shut down hundreds of links. On weekends with English Premier League matches we shut down links of illegal piracy. You will be very shocked at what that translates to. The size is enormous,“ Nzola revealed on September 18.
A report released by Partners Against Piracy (PAP), a multi-sectoral association formed to combat digital piracy, revealed that the creative sector loses about Ksh92 billion annually, or Ksh252 million daily in gross losses due to piracy.
According to the survey, during English Premier League (EPL) matches, hundreds of Kenyans use illicit streaming websites to get pirated content and watch live games.
All eyes are now on the board who have embarked on raiding such activities. Meanwhile, the board has given a new directive to copyright holders in the country.
Through the Board's National Rights Registry (NRR) system, copyright holders can now make changes to their registered works, and access, print, and reprint the certificate at any time.
"You can amend the details of your copyright works. The NRR system now allows copyright holders to make changes to their registered works, access, print, and reprint the certificate at any time." the Board informed.
