Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions in Kenya

The kiondo, the Kikoy, now the Maasai Shuka have been stolen from Kenyan! This is something we read about every other day in the press, over the social networks and commonly discussed. We hear about traditional medicines and therapies, traditional cultural expressions are used in music, artwork and designs. These are all elements of what … Continue reading »

The ‘Africa IP Forum’: Doomed to Fail?

It’s now official: the proposed Africa IP Forum planned to take place in Cape Town, South Africa 3-5 April 2012 has been postponed. The US Commerce Department, on it’s website, made the announcement as follows: “The African Intellectual Property Forum, originally slated for April 3-5, 2012 in Cape Town, will be rescheduled. Organizers are committed … Continue reading »

Latest Edition of Kenya Copyright Newsletter Now Available Online.

True to the Kenya Copyright Board’s promise, it’s latest quarterly publication “Copyright News” is finally out and has been dedicated to addressing growing concerns about protection of traditional knowledge, cultural expressions and genetic resources in Kenya. The newsletter is on KeCoBo’s website and is available for viewing and downloading here. IPKenya is particularly pleased to … Continue reading »

Music Copyright Society to Pay 13.3 Million Shillings to Kenyan Artists

In a recent public notice, the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) announced that it would be distributing royalties from radio and television distribution class as per the distribution rules of the society effective from tomorrow Tuesday February 28th 2012 until June 2012. The royalties to be distributed are from the radio and television stations … Continue reading »

An Intellectual Property Law Guide for All the Countries in Africa

At the end of last month, the entire African IP fraternity was abuzz after the news that Bowman Gilfillan had agreed to merge its intellectual property law practice with Adams & Adams making the latter firm the largest IP specialist firm in Africa. Recently Adams & Adams have redesigned and launched their website which will … Continue reading »

Makerere Lecturer Sues Bank of Uganda for 1 Billion Shillings in Copyright Infringement Suit

Sylvia Katende Nabiteeko, a senior lecturer at Makerere University’s Margaret Towrel School appeared before Justice Irene Mulyagonja at the Commercial Court in Kampala yesterday in a copyright infringement suit she instituted in December last year against Uganda’s Central Bank, Bank of Uganda (BoU). Nabiteeko is claiming 1 billion shillings from the BoU whom she claims … Continue reading »

Challenges Facing Intellectual Property (IP) Audit, Valuation and Management in Kenya

IP audit, valuation and management is a key aspect of exploitation and protection of IP. However, very few enterprises conduct these crucial exercises. Prior to 2007, the Business and Law Institute reports that only about 2% of the large enterprises were conducting some sort of IP audit with 0% from the medium and small enterprises … Continue reading »

Intellectual Property (IP) Management: An Overview

Companies should take a holistic and proactive approach to IP management by identifying IP infringement in the market place and protecting against infringement or loss, by applying best practices for protection, customising the approach to the cost and operational factors unique to each business. IP management also involves evaluating the clearest path to monetising IP … Continue reading »

Intellectual Property (IP) Valuation: An Overview

Ascribing a value to IP makes a business more attractive to potential investors and buyers. A business will benefit by, inter alia, determining a better idea of the overall value of the business itself, providing a tool to measure and manage the assets, provide security and backing for lenders, provide taxation benefits and at the … Continue reading »

Intellectual Property (IP) Audit: An Overview

IP audits are conducted in order to identify, protect and value these vital assets of any business. A need to conduct IP audits typically arise as a part of a larger due diligence investigation initiated in order to evaluate the state of the business prior to a merger or acquisition. At the very least, an … Continue reading »