HIGH COURT DISMISSES ECCO’S CLAIM, ECCO ORDERED TO PAY GOVERNMENT EC$10,000 IN COSTS
Basseterre, Saint Kitts, February 19, 2026 — Further to the press release issued on June 5, 2025, titled “ECCO Loses Application to the High Court for Interim Injunction,” judgment was delivered in the High Court today in the matter brought by the Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc.
In its judgment, the High Court dismissed ECCO’s claim in its entirety and ordered ECCO to pay the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis EC$10,000.00 in costs.
ECCO had sought to challenge the regulatory framework enacted under the Copyright Act No. 14 of 2024 and the Copyright (Collective Management Organisations) Regulations, 2024, which establish a system for the authorization and oversight of collective management organisations (CMOs) operating in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The regime was introduced to promote transparency, accountability, and the protection of promoters and creatives.
Specifically, ECCO sought:
- A declaration that section 4(6) of the Copyright (Collective Management Organisations) Regulations, 2024 is ultra vires the Copyright Act, 2024;
- A declaration that the absence of a transitional provision in section 4 of the Regulations breached ECCO’s alleged legitimate expectation; and
- An order of certiorari to quash section 4(6) of the Regulations.
All of these claims were denied.
The Court’s decision affirms the validity of the regulatory framework governing CMOs and confirms that the Regulations were lawfully enacted pursuant to the Copyright Act.
The Government was represented by the Solicitor General, Simone Bullen-Thompson and ECCO was represented by Dane Victor Elliott-Hamilton.
Here is a linked to the previous press release: https://www.sknis.gov.kn/2025/06/05/ecco-loses-application-to-the-high-court-for-interim-injunction/
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