URSB Scraps Gazette Requirement for Copyright Registration

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) has announced a landmark regulatory change that will dramatically streamline the process of registering copyrights and neighbouring rights, removing a significant administrative burden on the country’s creative sector.

Effective September 26, 2025, creators will no longer be required to gazette their applications before URSB can grant a certificate of ownership for copyright and neighbouring rights. This transformative change is enacted under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Regulations, S.I No. 73 of 2025.

According to a public notice issued by the Registrar of Copyright on October 3, the removal of the gazetting requirement makes the registration process “expeditious and cost-effective,” fulfilling a long-standing request from artists, musicians, authors, software developers, and other intellectual property owners.

Previously, applicants faced delays and extra costs associated with having their intent to register published in the official government gazette, a mandatory step that preceded the formal granting of rights. The elimination of this step means rights holders can secure their intellectual property protection much faster and at a lower cost.

The URSB is actively encouraging the creative community to take immediate advantage of the new, simplified process. The Bureau’s notice urges the public and the creative sector “to seize this opportunity and register their works.”

This move is expected to boost creative output and investment across Uganda’s entertainment, arts, and technology industries by providing quicker and more accessible legal protection, ensuring creators can more easily protect their work against infringement.

Creators seeking detailed guidance on the new, simplified procedure are advised to visit the URSB website at: https://ursb.go.ug/copyrights/.