Cabinet has approved the National Intellectual Property Policy 2019, according to the statement ready by government spokesperson on Ofwono Opondo who addressed journalists on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.
The document approved yesterday is expected to provide an enabling environment for stimulating innovation and creativity by protecting original works of innovators but also is envisaged to attract foreign direct investments, “A strong IP system it will encourage economic growth due to advancement in technology,” adds the statement.
It will also support establishment of comprehensive Public and Private institutional IP frame works for administration ,protection, commercialization and enforcement of IP rights , thus ensuring delivery of IP services to all stake holders; ensure effective IP rights enforcements: this will be achieved through building collaborations and strengthening linkages between different IP administrative and enforcement entities;
Further it will promote research and development; facilitate more active and comprehensive promotion of IP awareness through appropriate short training programs and generate effective and beneficial linkages between National and International IP systems as well as set a policy direction in Regional and International relations in respect of Intellectual Property.
The approval of the policy comes at the time when Uganda has no strict enforcement of the laws to protect (IPRs).
Analysts say Intellectual Property System should encourage and motivate inventors of inventions and creators of designs through protecting their rights, and instill confidence in the maintenance of business activities related to trademarks. “Without a proper system for both enforcing rights and also enabling the grant of rights to others to be resisted, an Intellectual Property System is devoid of value,” they say.
