Page 64 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 1

ISSUE ONE | JULY/AUG
rights
• Plant breeders varieties
• Traditional knowledge

According to the World Intellectual
Property Organization or WIPO,
the reasons for their protection
have been linked to the need for
invention for the progress and well-
being of humanity, to encourage
commitment of additional
resources for further innovation
and to spur economic growth.

What do some of the terms mean?
Intellectual Patents

A Patent is the exclusive right
granted by a government to an
Property inventor to manufacture, use or sell
an invention for a certain number
of years, in return for disclosure
of technical information, so that it
can be used or worked by a person
skilled in the art.
It has its origins in 16th and 17th
Century Britain whereby the Crown
granted privileges to subjects in
return for the subjects performing
certain duties. This was done,
initially, via open letter from the
Crown to the subject.

What can be patented?
A wide range of items can
be patented, ranging from
new and novelty items, to
Intellectual Property those of performing artists in discoveries, scientific theories
This is defined as intangible their performances, producers of and mathematical methods, new
property that entails creations phonograms in their recordings, methods of doing business, new
of the mind that include patents, and broadcasters in their radio treatment methods and so on.
trademarks, industrial designs, and television programs. Patents are granted for 20 years
literary and artistic works that are from the date of filing of the
used in commerce. Intellectual Property Rights application after which it falls
Intellectual property rights, like back to public domain.
Intellectual Property is divided into any other property rights, allow
two categories: creators, or owners, of patents, Copyright
Industrial Property, which trademarks or copyrighted works Copyright provide authors, artists
includes patents for inventions, to benefit from their own work or and other creators protection for
trademarks, industrial designs and investment in a creation. their literary and artistic creations,
geographical indications; and generally referred to as “works”.
Copyright, which covers literary These rights are protected by Copyright regulates the creation
works (such as novels, poems various types of intellectual and use made of a wide range
and plays), films, music, artistic property law: of cultural goods such as
works (e.g., drawings, paintings, • Trade Marks books, songs, films, paintings,
photographs and sculptures) • Patents and Utility Models handicrafts, photographs, music,
and architectural design. Rights • Industrial Designs computer programs among other
related to copyright include • Copyright and related things.
64 HEALING - RESTORING - REBIRTHING - AFRICA