Seeing as Nas did a song called 'New York State of mind' sixteen years ago (in his debut album Illmatic - best hip-hop album of all time), why would they be issuing takedown orders for a concept that really isn't their original idea?
I also think that protectionism is a bad idea but I would take exception at the graphs used to illustrate that some companies' employment figures are increasing. I think the chart shows the proportion of total job postings that are posted by Google, Facebook and Twitter, which can't be assumed to imply a rapid increase in the number of tech jobs being created. It may mean that the total number of tech jobs are decreasing while the three companies' hiring numbers are holding steady, which would lend further credence to Alan's point.
My point is not that what our parliament is doing is right, but that what they were reacting to was Kenyans being denied the rights to use emblems found in their culture by IP claims by non-Kenyans. Personally I don't think such things should happen, but you cannot criticize the Kenyan government from moving to protect its citizens' cultural icons from being exploited by foreigners using foreign IP laws.
From what I read in our media, the government wasn't making the actions for their own sake, or to extract money from anyone, but just to ensure that the people whose culture actually makes the kikoi and kiondo cannot be prevented from selling their creations in international because someone else fraudulently obtained a trademark or patent on them.
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by horace.
That's Odd...
hockey stick growth
(untitled comment)
Re: Patenting traditional designs
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by horace.
Submit a story now.
Tools & Services
TwitterFacebook
RSS
Podcast
Research & Reports
Company
About UsAdvertising Policies
Privacy
Contact
Help & FeedbackMedia Kit
Sponsor/Advertise
Submit a Story
More
Copia InstituteInsider Shop
Support Techdirt