This archive report was first published on 30 July 2021.
Kenyan start-ups are often encouraged to innovate and bring their ideas to the market, but the reality is that intellectual property theft is rampant in the country. This is according to research by IP Qarch, which showed that corporates often take advantage of the poor conditions of innovators and their ignorance to register patents, utility models, and copyrights.
One such case is that of Kibo Capital Group Limited, a local start-up that developed a unique utility model. Safaricom, the country's leading telco, allegedly copied this idea and used it to form the MPESA Bill manager for businesses.
The Intellectual Property Tribunal has since stopped Safaricom from using the bill manager until the case is heard and determined. According to documents seen by Kenyan Business Feed, Safaricom presented a weak case in court, seeking to deregister the utility model.
But what's even more shocking is that Safaricom had previously rejected an idea from a Twitter user, @Onorpik, who suggested that sharing of bundles could be made easier through linking of several numbers to one host number. The telco told him that they only accept proposals that they have solicited, and that they partner with innovators who already have existing solutions in the market.
Fast forward to a year later, Safaricom advertised the exact idea without contacting @Onorpik. This has left many Kenyans questioning the telco's integrity and wondering if they are truly committed to supporting innovation in the country.
As the case against Safaricom continues to unfold, one thing is clear: intellectual property theft is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Kenyan start-ups and innovators deserve to be protected and rewarded for their hard work and creativity.
