‘A Critical Review of Intellectual Property Rights in the Kenyan Tea Sector’ authored by Dr. Isaac Rutenberg examines the role of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in Kenya’s tea sector, considering its economic significance and cultural importance. The paper explores how IPRs, including patents, plant variety protection, and trademarks, are utilized in the tea industry, with a focus on both local and foreign entities. It highlights a recent shift towards greater local ownership and participation in tea-related IPRs, with a broader spectrum of innovation. While trademarks have traditionally been dominated by local entities, the study also points out the absence of tea-related IPRs held by non-Kenyan, Africa-based entities, which could have implications for regional trade agreements.
Isaac Rutenberg, A critical review of intellectual property rights in the Kenyan tea sector, Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, Volume 16, Issue 3, March 2021, Pages 226–235, https://doi.org/10.1093/jiplp/jpab055
