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PortuguêsIntellectual Property
Protecting, managing and enforcing your ideas, brands and innovations.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property law in Rwanda
Secure your creative assets with WAYAN. Our intellectual property law services in Rwanda include intellectual property registration, patent application in Rwanda, copyright protection, IP rights management in Rwanda, and robust legal defense against infringement. We also specialize in intellectual property consulting in Rwanda, brand protection in Rwanda, and IP enforcement in Rwanda, helping clients protect their innovations and elevate their market position through effective technology transfer strategies in Rwanda.
What We Do
Intellectual Property Services
- 01
Trade mark clearance and registration
- Availability searches before a brand is adopted.
- Filing and prosecuting applications with the Registry at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and handling oppositions.
- Renewals and portfolio management.
- 02
International and regional filings
- Trade marks through the Madrid System (an international registration designating Rwanda has the same effect as a national one).
- Patents through the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
- Coordinating protection across the East African Community and the wider region.
- 03
Patents, utility models and industrial designs
- Patentability advice and filing applications, including under the new pre-grant opposition procedure.
- Industrial design registrations.
- 04
Copyright and related rights
- Advice on ownership, registration (optional under the new law) and licensing of creative works, software and content.
- Rights in music, film, media and publishing.
- 05
Trade names and domain names
- Clearing and protecting trade names and domain names.
- Domain name disputes.
- 06
Trade secrets and confidential information
- Confidentiality agreements, and IP and confidentiality clauses in employment and consultancy contracts.
- Internal policies to protect know-how.
- 07
IP commercialisation and transactions
- Licensing, franchising, assignments, technology transfer and research collaboration agreements.
- Joint ventures and co-development agreements.
- 08
IP audits and due diligence
- IP audits and portfolio valuation support.
- IP due diligence in mergers, acquisitions, investments and financings.
- 09
Brand protection and anti-counterfeiting
- Anti-counterfeiting strategy, market monitoring and coordination with customs and enforcement authorities.
- Protecting sponsor and event brands.
- 10
Enforcement and disputes
- Cease-and-desist letters, and infringement and unfair competition claims.
- Opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Registry.
- Out-of-court settlement.
- 11
Technology, AI and digital IP
- Ownership of AI models, training data and AI-generated outputs, and open-source software compliance.
- Software and SaaS licensing, which links to the AI & Data Centres practice.
- 12
Sector-specific IP advice
- Life sciences and pharmaceuticals (affected by the new patentability rules).
- Agriculture, including plant varieties and geographical indications, plus creative industries and fintech.
- 13
IP strategy and training
- IP strategies for start-ups, SMEs and research institutions.
- Staff training on identifying and protecting IP.
WAYAN Law Firm
Protecting, managing and enforcing your ideas, brands and innovations.
Read our guide to trademark registration in Rwanda in our News & Insights.
Speak to WAYAN
Intellectual Property
WAYAN is a leading law firm in Rwanda providing expert legal and strategic advisory services in Financial Services, Government Strategic Investment Projects, Artificial Intelligence & Data Centres, Data Protection & Cybersecurity, Intellectual Property, Strategic Advisory & Management Consulting, Corporate Governance, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Pro Bono. We help businesses, government institutions, and organisations navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges with confidence, delivering practical solutions tailored to their needs.