Judiciary wants intellectual property tribunal established
Many publishers have seen a number of their publications illegally reprinted and sold cheaply. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Tribunals have the powers of a High Court but their decisions can be appealed in the event that the ruling is not agreeable to either party.
- Intellectual property, according to Uganda Registration Services Bureau, is creations or innovations.
Kampala. The Judiciary has recommended for a creation of a specialised tribunal to address copyright and intellectual property cases.
Speaking during a copyright workshop organised by Karuhanga, Tabaro and Associates in partnership with Uganda Reproduction Rights Organisation, Principle Judge, Justice Yorokamu Bamwine, said there is need for a specialized court to dispose of copyright and intellectual property cases.
“Cases in our courts take long for reasons beyond our control. Advocate for tribunals like the electricity tribunal, tax appeals tribunal as alternatives to litigation to manage the rising number of cases in this area,” he said.
The tribunal, he said, will be instrumental in curtailing the rising case backlog as well as providing specialised litigation.
Powers of court
Tribunals have the powers of a High Court but their decisions can be appealed in the event that the ruling is not agreeable to either party.
Justice Richard Buteera, the chairman of the Case Backlog Reduction Committee last year defined backlog as any case that fails to be resolved in two years.
According to Mr Buteera, there are more than 3,000 unresolved cases only in the Commercial Courts.
Justice Bamwine said there was need for sensitization, especially that many Ugandans such as musicians are ignorant about their rights when it comes to copyright.
Mr James Tumusiime, Fountain publishers managing director, said increased piracy in the publishing industry has been a challenge with many people using unlicensed publishers to reproduce other people’s works.
Government, he said, must come up with stringent penalties as well as restricting schools to using to only textbooks.
Mr Edgar Tabaro, a partner at KTA asked the public to seek legal action when their creative material is unlawfully used, saying court grants compensation.
Intellectual property
Protecting innovations: Intellectual property, according to Uganda Registration Services Bureau, is creations or innovations.
Intellectual Property is protected in law by, for example, patents, copyright and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition and financial benefit from what they invent or create with their minds. It is aimed at creating a balance between the interests of innovators and the wider public.
