Ethiopia Drafts Copyright Changes for Online Takedowns and Site Blocking

Ethiopia’s intellectual-property authority is preparing amendments to the country’s copyright law aimed at strengthening enforcement against digital piracy and defining the responsibilities of online intermediaries.

Wossen Mulu, head of Copyright and Related Rights at the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority, told The Reporter that the draft is being developed with legal experts from Addis Ababa University’s School of Law. He said it has passed through several consultations involving rights holders, law-enforcement bodies and justice institutions.

The proposed changes would establish a takedown-notice process for infringing material, set out responsibilities for internet service providers and create procedures to identify and block websites involved in serious copyright violations. The authority says the focus is unauthorized distribution of protected work rather than particular services such as YouTube, TikTok or Telegram.

The existing Copyright and Neighboring Rights Protection Proclamation No. 410/2004 provides civil and criminal remedies, but officials say identifying operators behind infringing accounts remains difficult. Rights holders often have to submit links and proof of ownership before platforms act.

EIPA also plans public-awareness work and is preparing Ethiopia’s accession to the Berne Convention. According to Wossen, a draft ratification proclamation has already been submitted to the Council of Ministers. The legislative proposals remain in draft form and have not yet become law.