Matata Wins "Mpishi" Copyright Battle, Files KSh 25M Counterclaim

The Kenyan music group Matata has won a highly publicised copyright case over their hit song "Mpishi," which features singer Bien-Aimé Baraza.

The Kenya Copyright Tribunal ruled that the group did not infringe on another producer’s work. Matata has now been given full clearance to reclaim ownership and distribution of the song.

READ ALSO: Chiki Kuruka Reacts To 'Mpishi' By Matata And Bien Being Pulled Down

This win marks a significant moment for the group, who had their music temporarily taken down from YouTube earlier this year.

The Dispute and the Ruling

The dispute began when a producer named Kelvin Njogu Murimi (DJ Keville) claimed that Matata's "Mpishi" copied his instrumental beat from a 2019 song.

Keville filed a copyright complaint on YouTube, which led to the temporary removal of the song's lyric video just before the official music video was released.

However, the tribunal found no evidence of direct copying. In her ruling, Tribunal Chairperson Elizabeth Lenjo noted that while both songs shared a similar reggae rhythm, they were both inspired by the 2004 classic "Can't Satisfy Her" by Jamaican artist I-Wayne.

This common influence, she stated, did not amount to copyright infringement.

The tribunal ordered the takedown claim to be immediately withdrawn. YouTube was given 48 hours to restore the video if the complainant failed to comply. Matata was also protected from any future takedown notices related to the track.

A KSh 25 Million Counterclaim

In a bold move, Matata has announced that they are now pursuing a counterclaim of no less than KSh 25 million. They are citing defamation, sabotage, and significant financial loss.

The group claims that the initial copyright complaint was an attempt at extortion, which damaged their online reach and brand credibility at a key moment in their music release calendar.

“The copyright complaint was an attempt at extortion, damaging our online reach and brand credibility.”

A Precedent for Kenyan Music

The case shines a light on the growing misuse of YouTube's automated copyright system. This system allows almost anyone to file a claim without first having to prove ownership in court.

Legal experts believe this ruling may set an important precedent for future intellectual property cases in Kenya, especially within genres like Gengetone and Afro-fusion, which often feature remixes and shared influences.