Kenya to record trademarks of imported goods to combat illicit trade

Government will create a database of the intellectual property rights for all goods to be imported into the country

Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Kenya has begun the process of recording all trademarks, copyrights, and trade names for all goods to be imported into the country to combat illicit trade, a government official said on Monday.

Robi Mbugua, executive director of the state-owned Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) told journalists that the government will create a database of the intellectual property rights for all goods to be imported into the country.

“The data will be used by border and customs officers to verify goods to be imported and prevent counterfeit products before entering into the country,” Mbugua said in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.

He noted that the program to curb illicit trade utilizes automated risk-management systems to analyze and target imported intellectual property-infringing goods.

Mbugua revealed that government inspectors will have the legal authority to detain, seize, forfeit and ultimately destroy intellectual property-infringing merchandise entering the country.

Mbugua added that the ACA will implement the recordation system to provide intellectual property rights holders the opportunity to record their registered trademarks and copyrights to receive enhanced border enforcement of the intellectual property.

He observed that the government will continue to provide education and outreach to industrialists regarding the critical importance of obtaining trademark and copyright recordation to stem the flow of infringing goods into the country.