Types of Intellectual Property Rights in Kenya

Copyrights protect original literary, artistic, and musical works, giving creators the right to control the use and distribution of their creations.Copyrights last for the author’s lifetime plus 50 years.

Trademarks safeguard symbols, names, and slogans used to identify goods or services, ensuring consumers can distinguish between different products in the market. Protection duration is usually 10 years and the Trademark protection can be indefinite as long as the mark is used and renewed.

Patents grant inventors exclusive rights to their inventions, preventing others from making, using, or selling the invention for a limited period, usually 20 years from the filing date.

Trade secrets are confidential business information, such as proprietary methods, customer lists, or manufacturing processes, which provide a competitive advantage. Trade secrets have no fixed duration and last as long as the information remains secret.

Industrial designs protect the ornamental or aesthetic aspects of a product, influencing its visual appeal. Industrial design rights usually last for 5 to 15 years, depending on the period of extension.

Utility models safeguard new and useful practical innovations that may not qualify for full patent protection.They provide exclusive rights for a shorter period, usually 10 years, and are sometimes referred to as “lesser patents.”

Plant breeder’s rights protect new plant varieties, giving breeders exclusive control over the sale and reproduction of these plants. The duration is usually 20 years of protection from the date of registration.

Geographical indications identify products as originating from a specific geographical area, where the quality, reputation, or characteristics of the product are essentially attributable to that location. This protection ensures consumers receive authentic and high-quality products associated with a particular region.