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.

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.