As we prepare to usher in a new year, a quick look back at 2012 is quite in order. Without further ado, here are the most read IPKenya stories during 2012: January: “Are we all lazy? The debate over innovation in Africa” “The Fight Against Piracy: Open Source Software versus Microsoft” … Continue reading »
Tag Archives: IPKenya
Law School Dean and IP Scholar Nominated to Kenya’s Court of Appeal
Kenyan media report indicate that Prof. James Otieno-Odek is among a list of 16 candidates nominated by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to serve in the Court of Appeal, Kenya’s second highest court in the land after the newly-constituted Supreme Court. It may be recalled that Prof. Odek had previously been shortlisted for the position … Continue reading »
Intellectual Property in Kenya / Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Traditional Cultural Expressions
A Look at Kenya’s Draft Bill on Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore
This week, IPKenya came across the working draft legislation on traditional knowledge (TK) in Kenya. A copy of this draft is available here. With this background in mind, this blogpost will identify some of the key issues for Kenyan policymakers with the help of certain key texts namely, the ARIPO Swakopmund Protocol, Kenya’s National Policy … Continue reading »
Revisting Copyright Protection of Databases in Kenya
In a recent decision by the South African High Court in Board of Healthcare Funders v Discovery Health Medical Scheme and Others [2012], Discovery Health South Africa was found guilty of copyright infringement in respect of a database developed by the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) known as Practice Code Numbering System (PCNS). PCNS is … Continue reading »
The Newly-Appointed 2012-2015 Kenya Copyright Board of Directors
The Attorney General who is the Minister responsible for copyright and related rights in Kenya has appointed 12 individuals to serve as Board Directors of the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO). These appointments took effect on the 17th of August 2012 and will run for a period of 3 years. The announcement of these appointments can … Continue reading »
Software Patents, Business Method Patents: State of Play in Kenya
“anything under the sun that is made by man [is patentable]” – US Supreme Court in the case of Diamond v. Chakrabarty 447 US 303 (1980) “From where does a man derive his right to possess something, and to refuse the whole world his right of ownership? This right originates from only one factor; the … Continue reading »
Anti-Counterfeit / Intellectual Property in Kenya / IP Enforcement / IP Policy / Kenya Copyright Board KeCoBo / Kenya Industrial Property Institute KIPI
The Case for an Inter-Agency Approach to Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement
Today marks the opening of an important event by the Anti-Counterfeit Agency (ACA): “Workshop on the Implementation of an Interagency Approach to Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement: Kenya and the East African Community” Unlike tangible property, IP is not well understood and thus is highly under-utilised in Kenya. That said, it is no secret that … Continue reading »
Judge Who Saved Music Copyright Society To Be Removed from Judiciary
Last week, the Judges and Magistrates’ Vetting Board determined that Lady Justice Jeanne Wanjiku Gacheche of High Court was unsuitable to continue serving as a Judge. This determination was made pursuant section 23(1) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and sections 13, 18 and 21 of the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Act No. … Continue reading »
Intellectual Property in Kenya / International Intellectual Property / IP News / IP Policy / Kenya Industrial Property Institute KIPI / Patents / World Intellectual Property Organisation WIPO
Upcoming Seminar at Strathmore Law School: Should Kenya Allow Computer Software Patents?
IPKenya is pleased to inform everyone that the newly-created Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) at Strathmore Law School is holding its inaugural event on 14-15 August, 2012 to discuss computer software patents and protecting IP in the ICT industry. CIPIT has managed to get representatives from the United States Patent and … Continue reading »
Non-Existent Intellectual Property Financing: Blame it on the Banks or on the Innovators?
Recently, the Business Daily and the Star published articles discussing the boom of mobile apps in Kenya and how young developers are finding it hard to access financing to support their software innovations. While the Business Daily points an accusing finger at the banks for not appreciating the value of IP, the Star argues that … Continue reading »
