The Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) says a new anti-piracy law, aimed at protecting creators’ rights and addressing digital piracy, is set to come into effect by December 2025.
Speaking at Multichoice’s Partners Against Privacy event, BIPA’s Manager for Intellectual Property Enforcement and Framework, Onesmus Joseph, said the legislation will modernise the country’s copyright protections, which have not been updated since 1994, to keep pace with advances in technology and the increasing risks associated with digital content theft.
“We are working on several key provisions for this law. Currently, the Bill is under Cabinet review, and we expect it to reach Parliament shortly. By December 2025, we aim to have a modern, effective law that enables creators to commercialise their content securely while holding offenders accountable for engaging in illegal acts under these updated protections.”
The revised law will introduce provisions to combat piracy effectively, with measures designed to protect creators and their work.
Notably, the legislation will criminalise actions that circumvent technological protections, enabling creators to secure their content in digital formats.
Furthermore, the law will impose stricter penalties for individuals and organisations found guilty of piracy, holding offenders accountable for copyright violations.
“Specifically, the law will include provisions for technology protection measures and criminalise those who attempt to bypass these safeguards designed to protect creators’ content. Additionally, we are focused on increasing penalties for individuals found guilty of piracy,” he said.
He further explained that as part of its broader strategy, BIPA has also launched mediation centres, offering a streamlined and accessible pathway for creators whose content has been infringed.
These centres provide services at no cost, giving artists and content creators an alternative to high-cost civil proceedings.
“As an office, we established a mediation centre to provide a minimum standard for resolving intellectual property disputes. If you believe your content is being infringed or suspect piracy, you can approach us, and we will work with the police to find an amicable solution. The services at this centre are completely free of charge,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Multichoice Namibia’s Managing Director, Roger Gertze, said piracy, often executed through illegal streaming platforms, continues to plague the entertainment industry.
He added that piracy robs creators of their rightful earnings as well as violates intellectual property rights. This practice not only damages the livelihoods of individual content creators but also threatens the sustainability of the broader creative ecosystem.
“As many of you know, piracy is a form of theft that robs our creative communities of their hard-earned work while violating copyright and intellectual property rights. By working together, we can protect the integrity of our content and ensure that creators are fairly compensated for their contributions,” he said.
