The Parliament of Malawi has passed the Copyright (Amendment) Bill No. 2 of 2025, bringing significant changes to the governance of intellectual property in the country. The Bill was passed alongside Bill No. 1 of 2025, which establishes the Companies, Registrations and Intellectual Property Centre (CRIPC) — a new semi-autonomous government agency that will take over the administration and enforcement of copyright law.
What Changes for COSOMA
Under the new framework, COSOMA will relinquish its role as the Copyright Administrator and will no longer be responsible for the legal administration and enforcement of copyright laws. These responsibilities will transfer to the CRIPC, which will serve as the Registrar of Copyright and will operate with a broader mandate covering company registration, business registration, and intellectual property rights management.
COSOMA will, however, retain its position as a Collective Management Organisation (CMO). This means the Society will continue to manage rights and royalties on behalf of creators — collecting licensing fees, distributing royalties, and registering copyright works specifically for collective management purposes.
COSOMA’s Statement
In a statement, COSOMA acknowledged the significance of the transition while reaffirming its commitment to the creative community. “The changes mark a significant transition in how intellectual property is governed in Malawi. However, we remain committed to supporting the creative community through our core role as a CMO, and we will continue to advocate for the rights and remuneration of our creators,” the statement read.
What Happens Next
A transitional period will follow the President’s assent to the law, during which the government will provide guidance to stakeholders on how responsibilities will formally shift from COSOMA to the CRIPC. Creators and licensing users are advised to continue engaging with COSOMA as normal during this period. COSOMA will communicate further updates as they become available.
For questions on how these changes affect your registration or licensing arrangements, contact COSOMA at cosoma@cosoma.mw or call +265 981 186 562.
