Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 20 AUGUST 2026

Kenya Advances National IP Reform

Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams
Contributor
Adams & Adams

Adams & Adams

Who we are: Established in 1908, Adams & Adams is an internationally recognised and leading African...

View firm profile
Explore more from Adams & Adams

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.

KenyaIntellectual Property
Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams
Author LinkedIn connections

Kenya’s Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry recently published a draft National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS) for public comment. If adopted and implemented, the NIPPS will reshape Kenya’s IP ecosystem through legislative reform, expanded commercialisation support, enhanced institutional coordination and increased emphasis on IP as a driver of economic development.

The draft sets out eight objectives and various strategies across seven priority areas aimed at strengthening the generation, protection, commercialisation and enforcement of IP rights in Kenya. Key proposals include:

  • New legislation on geographical indications and trade secrets: areas not currently protected under dedicated Kenyan legislation.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Key Takeaways From Kenya’s New IP Bill

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.
KenyaIntellectual Property
Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams
Article

Kenya Introduces New Online IP Filing System

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.
KenyaIntellectual Property
Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams
Article

Kenyan High Court Strikes Down Directive Affecting Intellectual Property Administration

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.
KenyaIntellectual Property
Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams
Article

Frozen Accounts And Fraudulent Funds: Navigating The Rights Of Banks, Customers And SARS

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.
South AfricaTax
Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams
Article

Nigeria Clarifies Copyright Ownership Of Musical Works

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
NigeriaIntellectual Property
Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams
Article

Constitutional Court Delivers Landmark But Incomplete Copyright Ruling. Parliament Must Now Seize The Opportunity To Modernise South Africa’s Copyright Law For The AI Era

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.
South AfricaIntellectual Property
Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams
Article

Contractual Liability Exclusion Must Be Assessed Against Each Cause Of Action Separately, Not Applied Wholesale Where Multiple Claims Are Pleaded In One Action

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals examined whether a directors' and officers' liability policy's contractual liability exclusion could bar coverage for an entire multi-count lawsuit, or whether each legally distinct cause of action—breach of contract, fraud, and quantum meruit—must be assessed separately against the exclusion's terms. The decision addresses the critical question of how insurers must apply policy exclusions when a single complaint pleads multiple claims arising from the same und
United StatesInsurance
Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams