The RDB (Rwanda Development Board) this week commenced a country-wide awareness campaign on Intellectual Property (IP). The month-long campaign is being held under the theme “The Meaning of Intellectual Property in your daily Life” and is aimed at increasing awareness on the importance of registering IP and its benefits. Furthermore, RDB is sharing knowledge on the benefits of protecting IP, commercialization and enforcement of IP with IP rights holders and innovators.

The campaign, targeting young innovators, students, the business community and academicians, will include road shows, talks on community radios and workshops. RDB will hold 26 road shows and ten workshops in Musanze, Gicumbi, Nyagatare, Kayonza, Muhanga, Huye, Rusizi, Rubavu, Nyarugenge, Kicukiro and Gasabo districts.

Speaking at the commencement of the campaign the Registrar General, Richard Kayibanda, said:

“IP is the fuel that powers the engine of prosperity by fostering invention, innovation and creativity. The increasing significance of intangible assets in the global economy is forcing Rwandan businesses to actively manage their intellectual property as a key driver for building and sustaining their competitive advantage and achieving superior performance. However, we need to keep informing the same actors on the benefits of registering their intellectual properties since many are not aware.”

IP refers to a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. It encompasses two types of rights: industrial property rights and copyright. IP is protected by the Rwandan Intellectual Property Law no. 31 of 26/10/2009 which enables people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create.