Now, MCSK Moves to Court, Sues The Kenya Copyright Board and The Attorney General (Photo)
The Founders of the National music society mandated with the collection and distribution of royalties to Kenyan artists – MCSK– have now moved to Court and sued The Kenya Copyright Board for contempt of Court.
This is after the Kenya Copyright Board disregarded earlier rulings by the Court restraining the Board from interfering with matters regarding the official duties of the MCSK which are essentially, collection of Royalties for it’s members.
For the past couple of months or so, KECOBO has been locked in some tug-of-war with the MCSK after the Board refused to renew the giant music society’s operation licence and instead granted it to little-known company, MPAKE (Music and Publishers Association of Kenya).
After the drama that followed the refusal to renew the licence for year 2017, MCSK Directors David Amunga and Laban Juma Toto moved to Court and sued the Copyright Board and other interested parties and that resulted to the Court barring KECOBO from awarding the licence to the new outfit until the matter was resolved.
This was also followed by street demos that saw the MCSK conglomerate picket in the streets and also present an urgent petition to several interested Government institutions.
Now, the MCSK has also taken to Court all of the 15 members of KECOBO including Mr. Kennedy Kachwanya and Ms Belinda Kiilu who are now being sued for contempt of Court.
In a case that was mentioned before Justice Njagi in the Kakamega High Court, the Kenya Copyright Board has been banned from issuing press statements and commenting on matters that are substantially and directly in issue with the matter pending hearing.
The game of musical – and legal – chairs keeps revolving…
