The High Court has ordered Kenya Copyright Board (Kecobo) not to release cash received through the Blank Tape Levy awaiting a hearing and decision of a petition challenging the entire collection exercise.
The High Court ruled on Wednesday that the money should not be released to the Performer Rights Society of Kenya, Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), and Kenya Association of Music Producers.
According to the orders issued by Justice Lawrence Mugambi”Prayer 2 of the Notice of Motion being an order temporarily restraining the Respondents by themselves or their agents from releasing funds collected under Section 30 B of the Copyright Act (commonly known as the Blank Tape/Media Levy) to the interested parties for distribution of the said blank tape/media levy to any person is hereby granted pending hearing of this application inter parties,”
In his lawsuit against the implementation of the Blank Levy Tape, Reuben Kigame has sued the Kenya Copyright Board, Kenya Trade Network, Kenya Revenue Authority, the Cabinet Secretary for Youth and Sports, and the Attorney General.
Kigame and two others petitioned the court for the injunction after Kecobo stated on Monday that the tax will go into force on September 15, 2023.
The BLT is a small tax levied on the sale of blank media and gadgets including CDs, DVDs, USB drives, and cellphones.
It is gathered on things that may be used to transport copyrighted information for private duplication.
