State, university to boost intellectual property rights

By Patrick Githinji

The Government has upped its game to promote protection of intellectual property rights, through a partnership with a local private university.

Kenya Industrial Property Institute (Kipi) and Inoorero University (IU) announced a joint venture, last week that will see IU offer, a three month certificate and six month Diploma courses in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

"The course is meant to train both the academia and industry on intellectual property law, and how to create IP on a variety of intangible assets, such as musical, literary, and artistic works; discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs," IU Vice Chancellor Prof Henry Thairu said.

Intellectual property refers to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which property rights are recognised and the corresponding fields of law.

Knowledge-based economy

Thairu said the training is crucial as the country’s economy in future will be knowledge-based, adding that there is a need for Kenyans to understand that IP can be employed in all disciplines.

Kipi Managing Director James Otieno-Odek said two of the biggest challenges in IPRs "are a general lack of awareness and shortage of skilled professionals".

Prof Otieno-Odek said IPRs are a managerial issue today and cut across industries.

"Local businesses are realising the importance of IPR as a business tool for innovation and expansion. Kenya is generating a lot of intellectual property, which students and small and medium enterprises are not aware of. The course will equip students, working professionals and entrepreneurs alike to recognise and deal with IPR issues," Odek

However, the partnership Thairu said, would encourage innovations among local entrepreneurs.

"Only with a good IPR system can local enterprises be continuously encouraged to be innovative," he said.

If the rights cannot be effectively protected, he said, enterprises will be increasingly reluctant to engage in research and development and their innovations will be hindered.

It is estimated the Government loses about Sh6 billion in potential profit and tax revenue due to piracy and trade in counterfeit goods.

"Manufacturers have also registered massive losses as a result of abuse of the rights, with modest estimates placing the net annual losses at Sh30 billion in counterfeits," said Otieno-Odek.

The Kenyan Economic Survey 2008 shows Kenya’s manufacturing sector reported a growth rate of 3.8 per cent in real value down from 6.5 per cent in 2007.