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iHub By Editor / July 24, 2012

To Patent or Not To Patent?

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Protecting Computer Software

On August 14- 15th, the Center for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) and iBizAfrica will host a seminar and training workshop, to discuss intellectual property, and particularly patents, as such rights pertain to computer software.

Target Audience

This training seminar will benefit anyone with an interest in obtaining IP rights for computer software. Lawyers will benefit by an enhanced ability to advise clients in the ICT sector. Large ICT companies will benefit by having an opportunity to voice their opinions about the treatment of computer software by KIPI. Entrepreneurs and start-up companies will benefit by learning the most appropriate and effective ways to treat IP within the ICT industry. (Click Here to Read More)

Get Tickets Here

To Patent or Not to Patent?

The seminar is co-hosted by iBizAfrica, the business incubator at Strathmore University and will be held at the at the Strathmore Law School.

The Kenya ICT Board is a major sponsor of the seminar. Sponsors also include Google. Participating organizations include Vision 2030, the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), and the World Intellectual Property Institute.

 Why You Should Attend: 

Here’s Isaac Rutenberg, Director of CIPIT on why you should attend.

 

Background

Kenya’s development blueprint Vision 2030 envisions the country’s transformation into a, “middle-income country providing a high quality life to all its citizens by the year 2030.” The Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sector is key to this blueprint, and the creation, distribution, and consumption of information is already a significant economic, political, and cultural activity.

As the Kenyan ICT industry grows, protection of intellectual property (IP) is becoming increasingly important. Protection of IP rights for computer software can be challenging, particularly in the area of patents. An understanding of the applicability, benefits, and drawbacks of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other forms of IP is critical to the ICT sector.

Computer software is not specifically excluded from patent protection in Kenya under the Industrial Property Act of 2001, and KIPI has several options for dealing with software patent applications. This seminar will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about the positive and negative aspects of computer software patents, and will provide attendees an opportunity to voice their support or opposition to such patents.

Day two of the seminar will provide practical guidance and will focus on effectively using IP in the ICT sector. The training workshop will explore protection via patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and domain names. Other topics will include IP in licensing and fundraising activities.

Tickets are on sale at iHub, Strathmore University, and the Kenya ICT Board (in the CBD). Early bird and student discounts are available.

For more information, please contact CIPIT@strathmore.edu.

Author : Editor

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