The Kenya government has stepped up its war against digital piracy, which it has focused on unauthorized sites to stream films, television shows and live football matches among others. The crackdown is an indication of a fundamental change in the way the government intends to safeguard intellectual property in the fast developing online arena in the country.
Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) are spearheading the effort. They strive to close the rogue sites, prohibit illegal streaming connections and prosecute people and organizations engaging in piracy. The relocation, according to the authorities, is way overdue because, the illegal streaming has denied creators and broadcasters billions of dollars in the form of lost revenue.
One of the most pirated content in Kenya has been football, especially games of major leagues and tournaments, of which organizations such as FIFA are affiliated. Personal computers are largely used by fans to free and illegal stream the game as they bypass licensed broadcasters. Although this is a convenient practice, it weakens the sports industry and demoralizes investment in the local broadcasting rights.
The movie industry has not been spared either. This has been the constant complaint by the Kenyan filmmakers whose works are shared online without their permission and often hours after they have been released. Not only does this impact on profits, but it also detracts local creative economic creativity and development.
The government reports that the crack down will entail high-tech surveillance equipment that will help in real time perception of piracy. Internet service providers can also have to cooperate by blocking access to flagged sites. There are also cybercrime and copyright laws under which offenders may impose huge fines or jail terms.
The move however has received mixed reactions. Although creators and rights owners are celebrating the move, other consumers have claimed that expensive subscriptions and the inability to access legal sites compel them to engage in piracy. This poses a challenge of high costs and availability in the Kenyan digital entertainment market.
Conclusively, the government claims that the crackdown is about fairness and sustainability. Through protection of intellectual property, Kenya is hoping that it would establish a more thriving industry, where artists, filmmakers, and broadcasters will be compensated to do their job, and audiences would have access to quality content through legal means.
