Authority registers over 5,000 intellectual property rights in one year

Addis Ababa, April 28, 2025 (FMC) – The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA) has announced that it registered and protected more than 5,000 intellectual property (IP) rights during the recently concluded fiscal year.

The announcement coincided with Ethiopia’s celebration of the 23rd International Intellectual Property Day, marked by a series of events promoting innovation and creativity.

EIPA Director General Weldu Yimesel highlighted the importance of creative works in enhancing Ethiopia’s global reputation, generating employment, and driving technological advancement.

He noted that musical creations, in particular, play a key role across multiple sectors. Ethiopia’s rich cultural heritage, values, and traditions, he said, offer a strong foundation for the development of music and other creative industries.

Weldu emphasized that the government is actively working to protect these creative outputs through new systems designed to enhance their national impact.

The Director General also outlined the authority’s strengthened efforts, which include learning from international best practices, improving stakeholder collaboration, and digitizing registration and service processes to improve efficiency and accessibility.

He cited the more than 5,000 registration and protection services in the past year as evidence, indicating that this is modernizing the sector, increasing accessibility, and ensuring creators benefit.

State Minister of Innovation and Technology, Mr. Bayisa Bedada, on his part emphasized the vital role of creative work in driving a country’s technological progress.

He stated that a coordinated legal framework is currently being implemented to safeguard intellectual property and copyright, ensuring that creators are adequately protected.

Bayisa underscored the importance of collaboration to ensure that musical and other creative works contribute meaningfully to national development, social cohesion, and unity. He also stressed the need for continuous strengthening of rights protection mechanisms.

The State Minister noted the ongoing efforts to fully harness the economic potential of creative industries.

As part of the celebration, an exhibition showcasing various creative works was inaugurated and attended by participants and invited guests, as called by POA English.

This year’s International Intellectual Property Day is being observed over two days, under the theme “Music and Intellectual Property: Fostering and Accelerating Innovation.”