Experts: Strong intellectual property protection key to Rwanda's Vision 2050

As Rwanda positions itself to become an upper-middle-income country by 2035 and a high-income, knowledge-driven economy by 2050, innovation, creativity, and competitiveness are at the heart of this vision. According to experts, robust intellectual property (IP) systems are key to this transformation in order to empower creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs to benefit from their ideas and creations. With the recent introduction of intellectual property courses in Rwanda, experts believe the time is ripe to explore how IP can serve as a catalyst for innovation and the creative economy. ALSO READ: Rwanda opens Sub-Saharan Africa's first intellectual property course Vision 2050 calls for the creation of a knowledge-intensive economy, where growth is driven by technology, research, and creativity. Intellectual property, experts agree, is the backbone of such an economy as it offers the legal certainty that inventors, researchers, and artists need to invest their time and resources into developing new ideas. “As Rwanda opens the door to intellectual property education, we must understand that strengthening IP isn’t just a legal task, it is a national development strategy,” said Sandrine Umutoni, Minister of State in charge of Youth and Arts. Minister Umutoni highlighted the critical role of IP in building Rwanda’s creative economy. “For the past two years, our ministry has been working to understand how the creative economy functions. Every conversation leads us to one truth, without a strong IP protection system, we cannot deliver the results we envision,” she said. While Rwanda already has a solid legal framework, implementation and enforcement remain a challenge. “The legal framework exists, but how do we enforce it? The creative industry still struggles with issues of visibility and compensation,” Umutoni explained. She emphasized that visibility should not replace fair compensation. “The hours an artist spends writing a song, painting, or designing deserve to be valued financially, just like any other service. We pay for electricity and air conditioning to have a comfortable workspace; intellectual work should be treated the same way.” Umutoni also pointed out that despite existing collection management organisations, royalties are not consistently paid. The ministry is therefore focusing on raising awareness and promoting education about IP rights among creators and consumers alike. Altaye Tedla, Director of the WIPO Academy, echoed the importance of education in unlocking the potential of IP. “If people understand their rights, they will see that government is not out to take from them but to protect them. Knowledge of IP laws helps creators safeguard and commercialise their work,” he said. Tedla added that integrating IP education into schools and universities could have a multiplier effect. “When teachers understand IP, they pass that awareness to students, who in turn become informed innovators and entrepreneurs. This has worked in other countries, and Rwanda can do the same.” She also noted that Rwanda’s alignment with international frameworks, such as the TRIPS Agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), provides a foundation for expanding IP education and enforcement. The Judiciary’s commitment Justice Kadigwa Gashongore, Vice President of the Commercial High Court, emphasized that the judiciary is ready to uphold IP rights. “Since the establishment of commercial courts in 2008, we have seen increased awareness of business rights. The government’s commitment to updating laws, including the 2024 IP law, shows its dedication to protecting intellectual property,” she said. However, Justice Gashongore acknowledged the need for more specialised training for judges to effectively handle IP-related cases. “We have the laws, but we need more capacity-building for judges. We also need to raise awareness among creators and the business community about their rights,” she added. He cited a notable case involving Kina Music, where the court ruled in favour of an IP owner even though their rights were not registered with Rwanda Development Board (RDB). “This demonstrates our willingness to protect IP rights, registered or not,” he affirmed. Richard Kayibanda, Chief Licensing Officer at RDB, noted that many Rwandans unknowingly hold valuable intellectual property that goes unprotected. “People have ideas and creations being used by others for profit, simply because they are unaware that their rights exist,” he said. He underscored that while copyrights are automatically protected, industrial property, such as trademarks, patents, and industrial designs, requires registration. “If you invent a product, create a design, or establish a brand, registration ensures you can benefit economically from your innovation,” he explained. Kayibanda added that improved IP registration rates are crucial for fostering innovation and attracting investment. “When creators and businesses know how to protect and commercialise their ideas, it stimulates economic growth and supports Rwanda’s goal of becoming a knowledge-based economy.”

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Experts: Strong intellectual property protection key to Rwanda's Vision 2050