World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Director General Daren Tang has hailed Kenyan innovators and creatives, saying they are driven by energy, ambition, and purpose to solve the various problems facing the country.
Speaking during the celebration of this year’s World Anti-Counterfeit Day in a Nairobi hotel, the WIPO DG pledged’s support to the innovators and creatives to protect and commercialize their innovations and creations.
He said WIPO intends to engage member countries to introduce intellectual property in the school curriculum, whose goal will be to have it taught in primary and secondary schools.
He said some people take shortcuts by counterfeiting and pirating products, services and creations of innovators and creatives.
“Fake goods and piracy undermine innovation and creativity, and counterfeiting, which globally is valued at over $500 billion (Ksh64.7 trillion), is a risk to the economy, national security and public health,” said the WIPO DG.
Noting that 30 per cent of counterfeits are sold online, the DG called on Kenyans to be vigilant of the new and emerging forms of this illicit trade.
KIPI Gives Way Forward on Handling Counterfeits
Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) Board Chairman Allan Kosgey said counterfeits are a threat to a country’s innovation efforts, consumer trust, public health and the economy.
He said KIPI Collaborates with ACA and other State and private sector stakeholders in enforcing intellectual property rights (IPRs) through various initiatives to ensure artistes and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) benefit from their invention and creativity.
“We, at KIPI, recognize that the fight against counterfeiting and the promotion of intellectual property (IP) rights cannot be waged in isolation,” Kosgey said.
Kosgey cited KEBS & KIRDI, who have referred to KIPI some of their clients, including MSMEs who have not registered their IPRs to have them registered.
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“This enables such clients to not only protect their IPRs, but also become aware of how to enforce them,” he said.
He said KIPI partners with ACA and other agencies in outreach activities to increase visibility and boost IP awareness among the public in terms of the processes of safeguarding their IPRs by registering them with & the negative effects of counterfeiting.
“We have equally worked closely in enforcement whereby we provide expert witness evidence in the form of copies of certificates of trademarks, patents, industrial designs and utility models in our database whenever an IPR infringer is taken to court,” he added.
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WIPO DG Meets Ruto
Tang is visiting the country for the first time since he was elected to his position on October 1, 2020.
He held talks with President William Ruto on June 6 at State House Nairobi.
In a statement after the meeting, Ruto said the creative economy is rapidly evolving and accommodating new realities caused by young people’s drive to monetize their ideas.
He revealed that the government is preparing a novel intellectual policy that will create new instruments to guide the industry.
“The establishment of the State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation is the clearest signal from the government that it’s keen to diversify on intellectual property,” Ruto said.
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