Tanzania Intellectual property Body launched

According to All Africa news, a new network has been established in Tanzania to sensitize the general public on Intellectual Property rights.

The Tanzania Intellectual Property Rights Network (TIP- Net)was launched at a workshop on livestock keepers' rights, traditional knowledge and intellectual property in December in Arusha, Tanzania. One interesting aspect of the network is that it will publish a quarterly newsletter on Intellectual Property rights.

The organisation will be headed by Mr. Laltaika, a Phd Candidate at the Max Planck Institute, and will work closely with BRELA, Tanzania's Business Registration and licensing authority as well as the Copyright Association of Tanzania.

This development is quite welcome not only in Tanzania but in the region as a whole, since widespread ignorance of the purpose and functions of Intellectual Property are in part responsible for infringement. This is especially so in the area of copyrighted materials and trademarks. The challenge will be to conduct sensitization continuously and among a broad spectrum of entities and people to ensure enduring results.