Kenya's IP Registry Has Moved To New Offices

Stiff penalties await dealers in counterfeit goods in Kenya once a new law on counterfeits is enacted.

The administration of intellectual property in Kenya is currently fragmented. The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (“KIPI”) administers patents, trade marks, utility models and industrial designs...

Kenya has published the Copyright and Related Rights Bill, 2026, representing the first comprehensive reform of its copyright legislation in over two decades. The proposed framework introduces modern provisions for digital-age challenges including AI-generated works, online enforcement mechanisms, and enhanced protections for creators and performers.

Kenya is poised to transform its intellectual property landscape through the consolidation of three separate regulatory bodies into a single unified authority. The Kenya Intellectual Property Bill 2026 proposes sweeping reforms that would streamline IP administration, establish a specialized tribunal, and create comprehensive oversight of patents, trademarks, copyright, and anti-counterfeiting measures under one roof.

The Kenyan High Court has delivered a landmark judgment nullifying a controversial directive that would have required KIPI Board approval for intellectual property registrations. This decision addresses fundamental questions about the proper allocation of authority between Kenya's IP governance bodies and the technical functions of trademark and patent administration. The ruling has significant implications for how intellectual property rights are processed and protected in Kenya's legal framework.

In simple terms, a counterfeit is a product that imitates the genuine one and constitutes an infringement of IP rights.

Kenya's Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry has published a draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy that proposes sweeping reforms to the country's IP ecosystem. The policy introduces new legislation for geographical indications and trade secrets, establishes specialized IP courts, and addresses emerging technologies including AI-generated works and blockchain applications.

A trademark can be any word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination of these things that identifies your goods or services.

The Ministry of Interior in Kenya issued directives on 6 March 2024, under the Preservation of Public Security Act to combat the production and sale of illicit alcohol and psychotropic substances abuse.

The Kenya Industrial Property Institute has introduced a digital transformation in intellectual property services by launching an online filing system. This new platform enables applicants to electronically file patents, industrial designs, and utility models while processing payments through a streamlined digital interface. The modernization initiative represents a significant step toward improving efficiency and accessibility in Kenya's IP administration.

A South African High Court has ruled on the lawfulness of account freezing by banks based on fraud suspicions and affirmed SARS's authority to issue third-party notices under section 179 of the Tax Administration Act. The case arose after a close corporation fraudulently claimed a VAT refund of R3.28 million, transferred R900,000 to an individual's account, prompting the bank to freeze the account and SARS to pursue recovery through a third-party notice.

A mortgage bond is registered when an owner of immovable property uses the property as security to raise funds from a bank or other financial institution.

Private bodies - such as hospitals, medical practices, banks and everyday employers - regularly receive requests for access to information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 ("PAIA"). Many recipients assume they have no choice but to comply with every request placed before them

A Nigerian Federal High Court has ruled on a high-stakes copyright dispute over the globally acclaimed gospel song "Way Maker," examining whether a music producer's technical contributions to a recording constitute co-authorship. The judgment clarifies the critical distinction between creative authorship and production services in determining copyright ownership. This decision carries significant implications for how the music industry documents and allocates rights between artists and technical contributor

As a millennial, it took me a while to embrace the Tiktok trend and ‘get with the Gen Z program'. In between billable work one evening, I found myself scrolling on the app...

The South African flag represents more than national identity—it's a protected symbol with strict legal requirements for commercial use. Businesses seeking to incorporate the flag into their branding or products must navigate complex regulations under the Heraldry Act and Merchandise Marks Act, requiring ministerial consent before use in trade marks, packaging, or advertising.

In line with Ministerial Decree No. 493/2025 the newly established Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority (EGIPA) EGIPA, located at the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology...

South Africa's Constitutional Court has delivered a landmark ruling on the Copyright Amendment Bill, upholding the controversial shift to 'fair use' while striking down broad educational exceptions for textbook copying. The judgment leaves critical questions unresolved about contract terms, ministerial powers, and the Bill's complete silence on generative AI—creating both constraints and opportunities as Parliament must now revisit legislation conceived over a decade ago.

Claims against estate agents for latent defects discovered after the purchase of immovable property are frequently pursued without a full appreciation of the legal requirements that must be satisfied for success.

In today's digital-first world, graphic design platforms like Canva and Adobe Express have become indispensable tools for entrepreneurs.