WIPO - KEPSA SEMINAR ON
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND
FRANCHISING FOR SMES
Nairobi, Kenya, February 8-9, 2006
Objectives, Programs and Activities of the
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Division of WIPO
Christopher M. Kalanje, Consultant, SMEs Division, WIPO
Objective of the Seminar
• Enhance awareness on role of IP in
Franchising
• Sensitize participants on IP opportunities
and challenges in franchising Strategic
use of IP in business
• Identify case studies on SMEs and
franchising in Kenya
• Identify areas of possible cooperation
• Establish partnership with institutions
Basic Facts about WIPO
WIPO’s Mission:
• To promote the protection of IP rights worldwide
and extend the benefits of the international IP
system to all Member States.
Status: An int’l intergovernmental organization
– Member States: 182
– Treaties Administered: 23
– Headquarters: Geneva
–
•
www.wipo.int
Basic Facts about WIPO contd.
Some WIPO Treaties that Kenya
is a party
PCT
- Kenya (June 8,1994)
1967
1883
1970
1989
Madrid Protocol
- Kenya
(June 26, 1998)
WIPO established
WIPO Convention
- Kenya (October 5, 1971)
1891
Madrid Agreement
1886
- Kenya (June 26, 1998)
Berne Convention
- Kenya (June 11, 1993)
Paris Convention
- Kenya (June 14, 1965)
Basic Facts about WIPO contd.
• WIPO Mission
– To promote the effective protection and use of
IP worldwide through cooperation with and
among Member States and all stakeholders
– Status: An int’l intergovernmental organization
– Member States: 182
– Treaties Administered: 23
– Headquarters: Geneva
http://www.wipo.int
Facts About SMEs contd.
Job Creation
Innovation
SMEs
Trade
Investment
Social Tranquility
Economic
Growth
Facts About SMEs contd.
• SMEs form the bulk of enterprises in most
economies
• SMEs contribution toward economic growth
of countries is widely recognized
• SMEs in Kenya employed some 3.2 million
people and accounted for 18% of GDP
(source: www.oecd.org/dataoecd/57/59/34908457.pdf)
• SMEs have the potential of doing better
than their current performance
Why SMEs and IP
• Studies show that SMEs do not
effectively use IP
• SME users of IP system are often
limited to high tech, biotech,
information and communication
technologies enterprises
• Increasingly large companies include
SMEs in their cooperate strategies
Why SMEs and IP contd.
Globalization
Revolution in ICT
Change in strategy;
- Shedding away
- Effective use and
managing of information
Why SMEs and IP contd.
Domestic Market
Why SMEs and IP contd.
• Removal of trade barriers has increased
competition both local and international
• The playing field (market) is more
“bumpy” i.e competitors differ in size
and assets, financial capacity, human
and organizational capacity e.t.c.
Why SMEs and IP contd.
• Price and location are taking back seat as
main factors of competitive advantage
• Efficient management practices, creative
and appealing designs and ability to
market are becoming a necessity if one
wants to succeed in the market place
• Technological edge plays critical role
especially in high-tech industries
Why SMEs and IP contd.
INTANGIABLE
ASSETS
in particular
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
TAKING A
CENTRAL
STAGE
Why SMEs and IP contd.
Stimulate investment in
new areas of R & D
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
Facilitate identification
of products by consumer
i.e consumer royalty
Facilitate partnerships
Enhances competitiveness
WIPO Activities for SMEs
• WIPO SME Division:
Established in October 2000
• Objective: To strengthen
the capacity of
governmental, private and
civil society institutions
worldwide to formulate and
implement policies and
strategies for meeting the
IP needs and concerns of
SMEs
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
Gather and provide
processed information
Focus on new areas
STRATEGY
Strengthen outreach
activities of IP offices
Create simple,
SME-friendly products
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
- Taking IP issues to
non-traditional audience
- Bringing business
community to IP events
- SME web site
www.wipo.int/sme
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
- SME e-newsletter
- Reaching out to
partners e.g. Chamber
of commerce, Business
associations (e.g KEPSA),
SME associations, SME
support institutions etc.
- Contributing articles to
WIPO magazine
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
Products (Guides)
– Making a Mark: An
Introduction to
Trademarks for Small
and medium-sized
Enterprises” (Arabic,
Chinese, English,
French, Italian,
Portuguese, Russian
and Spanish)
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
– Looking Good: An
Introduction to
Industrial Designs for
Small and Mediumsized Enterprises”
(Arabic, English,
French, Italian,
Portuguese and
Spanish)
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
• Inventing the
Future: An
Introduction to
Patents for Small
and Medium-sized
Enterprises (English;
soon to be available
in French and
Spanish)
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
• Customization/translation completed
– Algeria (French)
– Argentina (Spanish)
– Hungary (Hungarian)
– Italy (Italian)
– Lithuania (Lithuanian)
– Morocco (French)
– Slovakia (Slovakian)
– Tunisia (French)
http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/documents/guides/customization.html
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
Customization/Translation in progress,
Kenya (Final stages )
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
• Customization/Translation in progress
Tanzania (Kiswahili guide 1)
– 16 Countries members of the OAPI*,
– Egypt, Israel and Lebanon
* L'Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle
(Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon Central Africa, Congo, Cote
d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau,
Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad and Togo)
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
– Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Mongolia, New Zealand, Philippines,
Vietnam
– Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland,,
Ireland, Malta, Poland, Spain
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
• Guides under preparation
– Creative Expression (Copyright)
– IP Valuation
– Domain Names
– Trade Secrets
– Patent Information
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
• Joint publications
with International
Trade Centre (ITC)
– Marketing Crafts
and Visual Arts: The
Role of Intellectual
Property. A Practical
Guide (English, French
and Spanish)
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
– Secrets of
Intellectual Property:
A Guide for Small and
Medium-sized Exporters
(English, and Spanish)
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
– Exchanging
Value: Negotiating
Technology License
Agreements: A
Training Manual
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
• Other Publications (commissioned to
external experts)
– Intellectual Property Rights for the Toy
Industry in India (Funded by UNIDO)*
– Intellectual Property Rights for Machine
Tools Industry in India (funded by UNIDO)
• * United Nations Industrial Development Organization
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd
Multimedia Products
IP Panorama 01
- http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/multimedia/flash/module_1/intro.htm
Products in progress
IP Panorama 02: Marketing (TM & ID)
IP Panorama 03: Invention and Patent
IP Panorama 04: Protection of Trade Secrets
IP Panorama 05: Copyright and Related Rights
WIPO Activities for SMEs contd.
The SMEs web site has been
linked to several business and
academic web sites
Feedback
Increased interest on IP issues
evidenced in non-traditional IP
activities
Increased collaboration with
other institutions
Why Franchising
Rapidly growing business format
IP plays important role in franchise system
Need to enhance awareness of IP
and Franchising
Create the conducive environment for Franchising
activities
Conclusion
Increased
awareness
and effective
use of IP
system
Enhance
SMEs
competitiveness
Positive
impact in
economic
development
Finally