WIPO and Kenya to Intensify Collaboration on Patent Information

Geneva, September 22, 2009
PR/2009/606

On the sidelines of the ministerial segment of the WIPO’s Assemblies, Kenya’s Minister of Industrialization, Mr. Henry K. Kosgey, and the Director General of WIPO, Mr Francis Gurry, signed a cooperation agreement covering access to and dissemination of national patent documents.   This is the latest in a series of agreements between WIPO and intellectual property offices of developing countries to enhance access to patent information. Similar agreements exist with ARIPO, Brazil, Cuba, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, and Vietnam.

Under the agreement, WIPO will provide technical assistance to the Kenyan Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) for the digitization and dissemination of Kenyan patent documents via WIPO’s PATENTSCOPE® service.

Better access to information about the status of patents in Kenya and abroad offers local companies and inventors a clearer picture of the competitive landscape when developing innovations to compete in national and international markets.   Similarly, access to the wealth of patent information published worldwide can act as a stimulus for local innovation. More than 1.8 million patents are applied for around the world each year and only a fraction of these which will eventually be in force in Kenya. 

These partnerships are part of WIPO’s strategic efforts to contribute in a practical way to expanding participation in the benefits of the knowledge economy, reducing the knowledge gap and sharing the socio-economic benefits of IP systems.

The Minister and the Director General reaffirmed their willingness to continue cooperation on activities of importance to Africa and to developing countries including in the field of patents, trademarks and traditional knowledge.

The WIPO Assemblies are being held in Geneva from September 22 to October 1, 2009 to review the status of the Organization’s activities and to discuss future work.