Articles
Our articles section filled with insightful thoughts and ideas
HOW TRADEMARKS ADD VALUE TO YOUR BUSINESS
A registered trademark is far more than a legal formality, it is a valuable commercial asset that builds brand trust, adds intangible equity, and signals credibility to investors and partners. Beyond creation, its true value lies in legal protection, which enables enforcement, licensing, and long-term business growth.
What You Need to Know About Conditional Acceptance of Trademarks
Conditional acceptance means the Registrar approves a mark subject to a disclaimer or association, usually due to descriptive terms or similarity with other marks. The applicant must pay the required fee within 30 days or risk the application being deemed abandoned. It is not a refusal, and unwarranted conditions can be contested in writing.
East Africa Intellectual Property Newsletter – Q2, 2026
Welcome to the Q2 2026 edition of the Extent Corporate Advisory East Africa Intellectual Property Newsletter. This edition covers significant intellectual property developments across the region for the period April to June 2026, including landmark legislative reforms in Uganda and Tanzania, Kenya’s advancing copyright overhaul, ARIPO’s institutional milestones, and an important update from WIPO on IP and innovation for African startups. We trust this edition continues to serve as a valuable resource as you navigate the evolving intellectual property landscape. As always, our team remains on hand to provide guidance on any matters arising.
NEWSLETTER
This edition brings you the latest IP developments across East Africa and ARIPO, including Colgate-Palmolive's successful trademark enforcement action before Tanzania's Fair Competition Commission in which ECA acted for Colgate and the Court of Appeal's landmark ruling that ARIPO trademarks designating Tanzania are not enforceable without national registration at BRELA. We also cover the mandatory recordation of trademarks for imported goods taking effect on 1 December 2025, the Harare Protocol's entry into force in Mauritius, the FCC–CCSA cooperation deal, Rwanda's new IP law, and highlights from our IP Team's participation at the AIPPI World Congress in Yokohama
How to Protect Your Innovation with a Layered Intellectual Property Strategy: A Guide for Startups and Brand Owners in East Africa
In today’s knowledge-driven economy, protecting innovation is no longer just a legal formality, it's a crucial part of building a strong, competitive business. A single product rarely falls under one type of intellectual property (IP) right and this is why successful businesses around the world are adopting a layered IP strategy, using different types of IP rights simultaneously to safeguard various aspects of a product.