EAST AFRICA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY NEWSLETTER – Q1, 2026

Dear Esteemed Clients,

Welcome to the Q1 2026 edition of the Extent Corporate Advisory East Africa Intellectual Property Newsletter. This edition brings together key intellectual property developments from across the region, covering updates to the ARIPO trademark registration framework, proposed IP law reforms in Tanzania, copyright law reforms in Kenya, a significant High Court ruling on trademark enforcement, and upcoming events from our firm.

We trust this edition serves as a valuable resource as you navigate the evolving intellectual property landscape across East Africa. As always, our team remains on hand to provide guidance and support on any matters arising.

Recent IP Developments

ARIPO Trademark Registration: New Banjul Rules in Force effective 1 March, 2026

Effective 1 March 2026, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has implemented the most comprehensive reform of its trademark registration system in years. The 2026 Edition of the Banjul Protocol on Marks applies to all new filings, pending applications, and existing registrations across member states.

• ARIPO Trademark Fees Increased: Official fees for applications, renewals, and other filings have risen under the 2026 Banjul Protocol.
• Examination Period Reduced from 9 to 6 Months: Member states must now issue provisional refusals within six months of notification.
• Updated Application Forms: All ARIPO trademark applications must now be submitted using the updated 2026 prescribed forms; any applications filed using outdated forms will be rejected.

ARIPO Joins the Global Patent Prosecution Highway System

Effective 6 January 2026, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) is now a participating office in the Global Patent Prosecution Highway (Global PPH) Pilot Program.

The Global PPH enables patent applicants to request accelerated examination at any participating office by leveraging prior examination work done elsewhere. Applicants wishing to use this pathway at ARIPO must ensure their application shares the same earliest priority or filing date as a corresponding application examined at another participating office, that at least one such application has allowable claims, and that the claims filed at ARIPO sufficiently correspond in scope to those allowable claims.

Tanzania: Proposed IP Law Reforms on ARIPO Recognition and Well-known Marks

Tanzania is proposing significant amendments to the Trade and Service Marks Act (Cap. 326) and the Patents (Registration) Act. Currently at Bill stage and not yet enacted, these reforms would represent the most consequential overhaul of Tanzania's IP framework in decades.

Proposed Trademark Reforms

• ARIPO Trademarks to Have Direct Legal Effect in Tanzania: ARIPO trademark registrations designating Tanzania would be treated as domestic Tanzania trademark registrations.
• Statutory Protection for Well-Known Marks: International trademarks would gain express legal protection in Tanzania even without a local business presence, aligned with Article 6bis of the Paris Convention and TRIPS obligations.
• Collective and Certification Marks Introduced: New trademark categories would be created for collective marks used by associations and cooperatives, and certification marks used to indicate product standards.

Proposed Patent Reforms

• 20-Year Patent Term: Tanzania's patent protection period would extend to 20 years from the filing date, aligning with the TRIPS Agreement standard and international best practice.
• Strengthened Utility Model Protection: Protection for utility models would be extended and clarified, offering a more accessible route for incremental innovations and local inventors.

Kenya Advances Copyright Reform for the Digital Era

Kenya's proposed Copyright Reform Bill 2026, with public consultations closed as of 31 March 2026, introduces the most significant changes to copyright protection in Kenya in over two decades. The Bill is expected to progress through Parliament in the coming months.

• Fair Remuneration from Digital Platforms: Streaming services and online platforms will be required to pay fair remuneration to copyright owners and creators, directly addressing the economic imbalance in Kenya's digital creative economy.
• Reinforced Moral Rights: Creators' rights of attribution and protection against distortion or mutilation of their work are expressly reinforced, which are important protections for artists, musicians, authors, and other creators.
• Expanded Fair Use for Education and Research: Balanced fair use provisions are introduced for education, research, commentary, and journalism, with enhanced copyright exceptions for persons with disabilities.
• Website Blocking and ISP Takedown Powers: Courts will be empowered to order blocking of piracy websites, and ISPs will be required to remove infringing content on notice, bringing Kenya's digital enforcement framework in line with modern international standards.
• AI-Generated Content and Image Rights: The Bill actively addresses how copyright applies to AI-generated content and image rights, signaling Kenya's intent to lead on one of the most contested IP questions of the digital era.

Uganda Passes Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Uganda's Parliament has passed the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marking a significant step forward in protecting the country's creative sector. The Bill was passed during a plenary session on 17–18 March 2026 and now awaits Presidential assent before becoming law.

The amendments strengthen Uganda's copyright framework by introducing stronger protections for literary, scientific, and artistic works, alongside new provisions on royalties, digital protections, and enforcement. Notably, the Bill introduces stiff penalties for infringement, including fines of up to UGX 50 million and imprisonment of up to 10 years.

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), as the national intellectual property office, played a key technical role throughout the legislative process and will be central to implementing the reforms, overseeing registration, supporting collecting societies, and guiding stakeholders on compliance.

The new law is expected to curb piracy, improve earnings for creators, and bring Uganda's copyright regime into closer alignment with international standards, benefiting authors, performers, filmmakers, and other rights holders across the creative economy.

Knowledge Hub

TZS 1 Billion Trademark Claim Struck Out: High Court Rules Expired Registration Ends All Enforcement Rights

In the case of Dew Drop Drinks Company Limited v Lemon Dove Company Limited, Civil Case No. 000026624 of 2025 before the High Court of Tanzania at Kigoma (Rwizile, J), the plaintiff claimed TZS 1 billion in damages, alleging trademark and copyright infringement through the defendant's sale of bottled water under the name "Heru Water," which was alleged to pass off the plaintiff's "Dew Drop" brand. The plaintiff's trademark had been registered at BRELA in February 2016, and the bottle design was separately registered under ARIPO in December 2022. The defendant raised preliminary objections on, inter alia, jurisdiction on the basis that the trademark had expired and that the ARIPO design registration had no domestic legal effect.

The Court upheld the preliminary objection and struck out the suit with costs, finding that the trademark had expired in February 2023 and, in the absence of evidence of renewal, the plaintiff was barred from instituting infringement proceedings. The Court further held that the ARIPO-registered design had no legal effect in Tanzania, as the relevant ARIPO Protocol has not been ratified by Tanzania.

Update from the Registries

Both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar continue to publish online Trade Mark Journals, inviting interested parties to file oppositions within 60 days from the date of publication. Stakeholders are encouraged to regularly monitor https://www.brela.go.tz/ and https://bpra.go.tz/. Timely monitoring remains essential for protecting existing rights and preventing conflicting registrations.

Firm News

Commemoration of the World Intellectual Property Day 2026!

On April 24, 2026, Extent Corporate Advisory (ECA) will commemorate World Intellectual Property (IP) Day with impactful discussions. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to help businesses thrive through comprehensive IP protection and strategy!

Extent Corporate Advisory's IP Team to Attend INTA Annual Meeting 2026

Our Intellectual Property Department Team will be attending the prestigious INTA Annual Meeting from May 2-6, 2026, London, England. This international event presents a valuable opportunity for our team to connect with global IP professionals, learn about the latest trends in intellectual property, and share insights. As a firm with a strong presence in East Africa and ARIPO, we are excited to enhance our network and knowledge of global IP practices. To schedule a meeting, please contact nabiry.jumanne@extentadvisory.co.tz