Hillary Muheebwa

Articles: 29

Zimbabwe Establishes An Intellectual Property Tribunal, As A Special Division Of High Court

KAMPALA, Uganda -- In what is seen as a significant achievement in the making of history of intellectual property law, the Government of Zimbabwe has instituted and operationalised an Intellectual Property Tribunal, with the mandate to speedily preside over all IP matters, disputes, infringements, passing off and other related issues. The Tribunal recently heard its first case. [A reminder to readers: All IP-Watch stories are totally free for least-developed countries and almost all developing countries. Just sign up for a password under Subscribe.]

ARIPO Adopts Plant Variety Regulations, As Farmers Advocacy Groups Raise Concern

KAMPALA, Uganda -- The Forty-first Session of the Administrative Council of African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) held this month adopted the Regulations for the Implementation of the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, amidst protest from civil society organisations and farmer representatives.

Hillary Muheebwa
November 30, 2017

Uganda Parliament Passes Bill To Promote Use Of Genetically Modified Materials, Biotech

KAMPALA, Uganda -- Several genetically modified crops that are more resilient to drought, flooding, saline or acid soils and temperature extremes resulting from climate change are already being researched in Uganda and are in advanced stages. The enactment of an enabling law, the Uganda National Biosafety Bill 2017, is intended to enhance the development of modern biotechnology.

Hillary Muheebwa
November 3, 2017
2 Comments

Without Understanding What Traditional Knowledge Is, We Cannot Utilize It Appropriately

KAMPALA, Uganda -- For a long time, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions were timidly recognised as intellectual efforts worthy of legal protection. Of recent, indigenous peoples, local communities, and some governments have demanded the recognition of traditional forms of creativity and innovation as protectable intellectual property.

Hillary Muheebwa
July 18, 2017

ARIPO, OAPI To Harmonise Practices On Intellectual Property In Africa

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and its sister organisation, Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle [African Intellectual Property Organization] (OAPI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to harmonise the intellectual property systems of the two institutions.

Hillary Muheebwa
February 21, 2017
1 Comment

ARIPO Amends Protocol On Patents, Utility Models And Designs

The Harare Protocol on Patents, Industrial Designs and Utility Models has been amended. The amendments were adopted by the 40th Session of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Administrative Council, and came into operational effect from 1 January 2017.

Hillary Muheebwa
January 6, 2017

ARIPO Members: Collective Management Organisations Need Better Digital Documentation, Licensing

Collective management organisations need to embrace online trading platforms, so as to increase earnings for economies and creators. That was the call made during a recent regional workshop on digital licensing and documentation in Harare, Zimbabwe for music collective management organisations (CMOs) by the member states of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).

Hillary Muheebwa
November 23, 2016

WIPO Workshop: African States Are Themselves To Blame, Should Compile, Publicize IP Statistics

Each year, the World Intellectual Property Organization Economic and Statistics Division sends out questionnaires, which intellectual property offices worldwide are expected to complete and return.

Hillary Muheebwa
October 10, 2016
1 Comment

Growing Call For Transparency Within African CMOs To Ensure Membership Confidence

KAMPALA, Uganda -- Collective management organisations (CMOs) in African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) member states, and Africa at large, have the potential to contribute to the growth and development of creative industries. However, they need to be supported, guided and supervised to ensure that they achieve the purpose for which they are established.

Hillary Muheebwa
August 16, 2016

ARIPO Reviews Draft Regulations On Implementation Of Arusha Protocol On Plant Varieties

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) last week hosted a meeting of experts in Harare, Zimbabwe, to review the Draft Regulations for the Implementation of the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.

Rwanda Releases New Tariff Levels On IP, Signs UPOV 91 Biotech Rules

The government of Rwanda has revised the fees and cost to be paid for the registration of different categories of intellectual property rights. The changes mean lower fees for all types of IP rights, and gives more time to oppose registrations. Rwanda also enacted a law on seeds and plant varieties.

Hillary Muheebwa
June 6, 2016

Uganda In The Process Of Signing Swakopmund And Arusha Protocols

KAMPALA -- The Republic of Uganda is in the process of signing the Swakopmund Protocol on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore, and the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.

Hillary Muheebwa
April 19, 2016