IP Kenya: A blog review

Abstract

‘A book may be good for nothing; or there may be only one thing in it worth knowing; are we to read it all through?’ (Samuel Johnson) This section is dedicated to the review of ideas, articles, books, films and other media. It will include replies (and rejoinders) to articles, the evaluation of new ideas or proposals, and reviews of books and articles both directly and indirectly related to intellectual property law. Although starting with a mystifying and slightly confused post in Latin, Victor B. Nzomo's IP Kenya Blog subsequently delivers what it promises: it is insightful, informative and covers a broad area of IP subject matter both on a Kenyan and on a pan-African level. The blog entries, the author's personal input and the readers' comments have progressively increased since January 2011, when the blog was launched by the Kenyan lawyer. With an average of six entries per month in 2013, some posts spark debates on controversial aspects of IP—in Kenya and worldwide—such as the legislative protection of traditional knowledge, the granting of business method patents and the institution of an autonomous publicity right. The author summarizes all Kenyan IP legislative acts and reports pertinent cases, mainly from East and South Africa.