COSBOTS (Copyright Society of Botswana)

COSBOTS (Copyright Society of Botswana) is a non-profit collective management organization established in 2008 as Botswana's sole CMO for copyrighted works. Mandated by the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act CAP 68:02, COSBOTS licenses the use of musical and literary works on behalf of its members, collects royalties from users, and distributes those payments to rights holders.

How COSBOTS Works

COSBOTS was incorporated in 2008 as a private company limited by guarantee. It became fully operational in November 2011, began registering members and licensing users in 2012, and conducted its first royalty distribution in 2014.

The organization operates under Section 36A of Botswana's Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, which defines its mandate:

1. Member registration: Creators (songwriters, composers, authors, publishers) register as members and submit their works to the COSBOTS catalog. Membership is open to rights holders of works protected under Botswana's copyright law.
2. Licensing: COSBOTS issues licenses to users of copyrighted works, including broadcasters, DJs, libraries, venues, restaurants, retail stores, and any business that plays music publicly. Under the Berne Convention's principle of national treatment, COSBOTS licenses both domestic and foreign works equally.
3. Royalty collection: Licensees pay fees to COSBOTS for the right to use music in its catalog. COSBOTS monitors usage through broadcast logs, venue reports, and other tracking methods.
4. Royalty distribution: Collected fees are distributed to members based on usage data. COSBOTS has shown steady growth in distributions, from approximately P500,000 in 2014 to P1.5 million in 2019/2020 and P7.3 million in 2020/21. The society has approved P8.8 million for subsequent distribution periods.

As the only CMO in Botswana, COSBOTS serves as the single point of contact for both rights holders seeking to collect royalties and music users seeking to obtain licenses. It is a member-based organization, meaning creators have a say in governance through general meetings and voting rights.

Real-World Example: Royalty Growth in Botswana

A Botswana-based songwriter registers three original songs with COSBOTS. One of those songs receives regular airplay on a Botswana radio station and is frequently performed by a DJ at licensed venues.

The radio station pays an annual blanket license fee to COSBOTS. The DJ's venues also pay licensing fees. COSBOTS analyzes the radio station's broadcast logs and the venue usage reports to determine which works were performed and how often.

At the end of the distribution period, the songwriter receives a royalty payment proportional to the usage of their three songs. If their songs accounted for 0.1% of all logged performances in that period, they receive 0.1% of the distributable royalty pool.

The growth trajectory is notable. In 2014, COSBOTS distributed approximately P500,000 total across all members. By 2020/21, that figure reached P7.3 million. This growth reflects both increased licensing compliance by music users in Botswana and growing membership and catalog registration by creators.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a songwriter, composer, or publisher based in Botswana, COSBOTS membership is the primary way to collect royalties for the public use of your music.

For independent artists:

• Join before your music gets played: You can only collect royalties for uses that occur after your membership and work registrations are active. Register early to avoid losing income.
• Register every work: Each song, composition, or literary work needs individual registration with accurate metadata (title, writers, publishers, ownership splits). Incomplete registrations are the main cause of delayed payments.
• License your venues: If you organize events or perform at venues, ensure those venues have COSBOTS licenses. Unlicensed venues mean uncollected royalties for you and other creators.
• Understand the Berne Convention: COSBOTS treats foreign works the same as domestic works. This means your Botswana-registered music can earn royalties internationally through COSBOTS's reciprocal agreements with other societies, and foreign music earns royalties through COSBOTS licenses in Botswana.
• Engage with governance: As a member-based organization, COSBOTS members can participate in annual general meetings and vote on society matters. This gives you a voice in how the organization operates.

Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings, and read our guide on how to register your music with a PRO for practical steps.

Territory Covered

COSBOTS covers the Republic of Botswana. It licenses and collects royalties for the public use of copyrighted musical and literary works within Botswana's borders. Under the Berne Convention's principle of national treatment, COSBOTS licenses both domestic and foreign works equally within its territory. Through reciprocal agreements, Botswana-registered music can also earn royalties internationally when performed in partner countries.

How to Join and Membership Fees

Membership in COSBOTS is open to songwriters, composers, authors, publishers, and rights holders of works protected under Botswana's Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act CAP 68:02. According to Rule 8 of the COSBOTS Membership and Distribution Rules, registration is not subject to a fee. Membership is free.

To join, creators must:

1. Submit a membership application to COSBOTS.
2. Provide details about themselves and their works (title, writers, publishers, ownership splits).
3. Register each individual work with accurate metadata.

COSBOTS began registering members in 2012. The organization is supervised by the Copyright Office under the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA).

Overhead Rate

COSBOTS deducts administrative costs from collected revenue before distributing royalties to members, as authorized by Rule 20 of its Distribution Rules. The exact percentage is not fixed and varies by year. Based on COSBOTS annual reports, the revenue-to-distribution ratio (the percentage of collected revenue actually distributed to members) has fluctuated:

• 2017: P2,643,686 distributed (ratio not reported)
• 2019: P3,011,912 distributed from P11,295,000 revenue (26.67% distributed, 73.33% overhead)
• 2020: P6,496,456 distributed from P15,725,051 revenue (41.26% distributed, 58.74% overhead)
• 2021: P7,470,000 distributed (48.97% distributed based on reported figures)
• 2022: P7,470,000 distributed from P12,556,034 revenue (59.31% distributed, 40.69% overhead)

The overhead rate has ranged from approximately 40% to 73% of collected revenue, reflecting investments in organizational growth, market conditions, and changes in revenue streams. COSBOTS states it is committed to improving the distribution ratio over time.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

COSBOTS distributes royalties annually. The society conducted its first royalty distribution in 2014, approximately two years after beginning member registration and licensing in 2012.

Distributions are based on usage data collected from broadcast logs, venue reports, and other tracking methods. The net distributable revenue for music is divided as follows: 60% for musical works and 40% for sound recordings.

COSBOTS has also begun digital rights royalties distribution through its agreement with CAPASSO (Composers, Authors and Publishers Association, South Africa), which handles digital licensing including legal downloads, streaming, ringback tones, video on demand, and online radio on behalf of COSBOTS.

Reciprocal Agreements

COSBOTS became a provisional member of CISAC (International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) on May 28, 2020, with CISAC code 331.

COSBOTS has reciprocal representation agreements with approximately 15 African countries, including:

• Namibia
• Mauritius
• Ivory Coast
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Zimbabwe
• Malawi
• Kenya
• South Africa (two bodies: SAMPRO and DALRO)

Through these agreements, COSBOTS collects royalties for foreign artists whose music is performed in Botswana, and partner societies collect royalties for Botswana artists whose music is performed abroad. COSBOTS also has an agreement with CAPASSO (South Africa) for digital and mechanical royalties collection.

International royalties for artists from countries without finalized mutual agreements are held by COSBOTS for up to seven years, while local royalties are held indefinitely until claimed.

Notable Members

COSBOTS represents songwriters, composers, and publishers across Botswana. Notable members include:

• Jeff Matheatau (deceased June 2026): Composer, songwriter, and performer. COSBOTS member since 2014. Known for songs including "Ngwanyana wa Ghanzi," "Mapuo," and "Ko Moepong."
• Tomeletso Sereetsi: Chairperson of COSBOTS. Musician and leader of Sereetsi & The Natives band. Known for the song "Robete" from his jazz album.
• Vee Mampeezy: Musician and performer, noted for his contributions to the Botswana music scene.

COSBOTS's membership has grown since registration began in 2012, with the society representing creators across musical, literary, and artistic works protected under Botswana's copyright law.

Comparison Table

Videos

Similar PROs

• SAMRO - Southern African Music Rights Organization, collects performance royalties for South African composers and publishers
• SAYCO - Colombian Society of Authors and Composers, manages performance rights in Colombia
• COSCAP - Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Barbados-based CMO for Caribbean creators
• KOSCAP - Korea Music Copyright Association, collects performance royalties for Korean creators

Related Terms

• PRO (Performance Rights Organization) - The category of organizations COSBOTS belongs to
• Performance Royalties - The primary royalty type COSBOTS collects
• CMO (Collective Management Organization) - The organizational model COSBOTS follows
• Blanket License - The licensing model COSBOTS uses for music users
• Copyright - The legal foundation for COSBOTS's mandate

Learn about all the royalties you should be collecting and explore our PRO comparison guide to see how COSBOTS compares to other societies.

Visit the COSBOTS website for membership information, licensing details, and royalty distribution schedules.