Yes, You Built It, but Do You Own It? The Road to Securing Creativity

Sylvester Omondi argues that African startups are innovating in fields such as fintech and healthtech but often neglect to protect their intellectual property. In Kenya, copyright in code written by a contractor belongs by default to the contractor unless an assignment agreement says otherwise, potentially leaving a company without legal ownership of its platform. Unregistered trademarks and unclear agreements over university projects can expose founders to competitors, disputes and reduced leverage with investors. Omondi calls for greater awareness and clear IP arrangements from the earliest stages of innovation.