Intellectual Property Rights in Tanzania: An Appraisal of the Law and Developmental Issues

Abstract

The ubiquity of intellectual property rights (IPR) makes it a special and an everpresent agenda in various forums and dialogues on developmental issues.Reflections and debates on the role of IPR are abounds in all fields and sectors suchas education, science and technology, business, agriculture and food security, artsand culture, and environmental protection. Thus, a proper assessment of thedevelopmental dimension of the IPR system inevitably requires calibrating alongmany fields. This paper investigates possible positive effects of strategic use of IPRin various developmental initiatives and posits that IPR, if strategically integratedin national policies, laws, and development programs, have the potential oftriggering social and economic development in Tanzania. The paper deploys aqualitative and rights based approach exploring the policy and legal framework onIPR by unearthing the developmental related issues intertwined therein. It has beenestablished that while currently there is no national policy on IPR, yet there arevarious policy statements traceable from scattered policies, hence making itimpractical to have a coordinated national approach on IPR. Therefore, amongstthe interventions, it is proposed to adopt a stand-alone national IPR policy inTanzania, followed by a wholesome review of the existing legal and regulatoryframework on IPR to integrate a development-conscious approach and keepabreast with the recent global trends and developments.