US calls for tough patent law
Jun 15, 2010
COPYRIGHT abuses are crippling various businesses in Uganda as the market is flooded with counterfeit goods ranging from medicines, electronics and fabrics, a top official disclosed last week.
By Titus Kakembo
COPYRIGHT abuses are crippling various businesses in Uganda as the market is flooded with counterfeit goods ranging from medicines, electronics and fabrics, a top official disclosed last week.
“This is dangerous to Uganda’s overall economic development, increasing global trade and investment in Uganda by US firms is endangered,†said Vincent Balogun, the Mantrac managing director.
“There is need for enforcement of the copy- right law,†he added. A patent can be defined as a contract between society as a whole and the individual inventor.
The inventor is given exclusive rights to prevent others from making, using and selling a patented invention for a fixed period of time.
Balogun was speaking during The American Chamber of Commerce symposium hosted to address collective interests of the US business community in the country. Citibank managing director Chinedu Ikwedinma called upon the authorities to protect the country’s innovative local industries with tough laws.
“Foster innovation by regulating the copying of inventions, identifying symbols and creative expressions,†said Ikwedinma.
“These laws encompass four separate and distinctive types of intangible property.â€
He stressed that the intellectual property comprise patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.
The chamber is challenging the Government to pass strong copyright laws and make dealers adhere to the international conventions.
They also called for the establishment of an effective enforcement and monitoring mechanism to fight piracy.
Local manufacturers complained that their efforts to fight against the vice had been thwarted by lack of supportive laws.
COPYRIGHT abuses are crippling various businesses in Uganda as the market is flooded with counterfeit goods ranging from medicines, electronics and fabrics, a top official disclosed last week.
“This is dangerous to Uganda’s overall economic development, increasing global trade and investment in Uganda by US firms is endangered,†said Vincent Balogun, the Mantrac managing director.
“There is need for enforcement of the copy- right law,†he added. A patent can be defined as a contract between society as a whole and the individual inventor.
The inventor is given exclusive rights to prevent others from making, using and selling a patented invention for a fixed period of time.
Balogun was speaking during The American Chamber of Commerce symposium hosted to address collective interests of the US business community in the country. Citibank managing director Chinedu Ikwedinma called upon the authorities to protect the country’s innovative local industries with tough laws.
“Foster innovation by regulating the copying of inventions, identifying symbols and creative expressions,†said Ikwedinma.
“These laws encompass four separate and distinctive types of intangible property.â€
He stressed that the intellectual property comprise patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.
The chamber is challenging the Government to pass strong copyright laws and make dealers adhere to the international conventions.
They also called for the establishment of an effective enforcement and monitoring mechanism to fight piracy.
Local manufacturers complained that their efforts to fight against the vice had been thwarted by lack of supportive laws.