Rwanda Hosts The 5th Annual Intellectual Property Week Event in Africa

Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in collaboration with World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) have organised the 5th Intellectual Property Week in Africa that is scheduled to run from June 24-28, 2019 in Rwanda .

The event, which enters its third day on Wednesday, started by focusing on research and development in institutions of higher learning such as universities and IPRCs within the country.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the event will put emphasis on highlighting the relevancy of Intellectual Property awareness in increasing the competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’S).

Intellectual property contains two main categories; copy and related rights that cover artistic works, songs, literature, broadcasting rights. There is also industrial property, eg; logos, industrial designs.

The law that protects intellectual property was gazetted in 2019 in the country and it provides for protection and sanctions in case of infringement. However, that law is under review.

Speaking during the event, Richard Kayibanda, Registrar General at the Rwanda Development Board, cautioned individuals in the creative arts industry as well as innovators or researchers to always register their ideas or works quickly as failure to do so can easily allow fraudsters access their idea or information and register it first which would give them full ownership of the innovation.

News Source: The New Time