Title: Someone Stole My Song/Brand! How to Register IP Rights in Uganda
You’ve built a brand, written a song, or invented a new product. But without legal protection, anyone can copy it. In Uganda, intellectual property (IP) is managed by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) under laws like the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 2006.
What you can protect:
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Trademarks (Logos & Brand Names): Register your business name, slogan, or logo. This gives you exclusive rights to use it for 7 years (renewable). Cost: approx. UGX 150,000 – 300,000.
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Patents (Inventions): If you’ve invented a new machine, process, or product, a patent protects it for 20 years. No one can manufacture or sell it without your permission.
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Copyright (Art, Music, Books): Automatic upon creation, but registration helps in court. Covers literary, musical, and artistic works. Protection lasts your lifetime plus 50 years.
What to do if someone infringes:
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Send a cease-and-desist letter via a lawyer.
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Report to URSB or the Police’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID – Intellectual Property Unit).
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File a civil suit for damages and an injunction.
Pro Tip: Register your trademark before you start mass-producing branded goods. Many Ugandan entrepreneurs lose their brand to fast-moving copycats.