The Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has issued fresh guidance to businesswoman Shiquo Hii Style after reportedly removing counterfeit goods from her Nairobi Central Business District shop.
In a statement, the Authority clarified that its actions were aimed at removing counterfeit goods from the market and not targeting legitimate businesses.
The agency also noted Shiquo’s public remarks expressing her ambition to establish her own fashion brand, with ACA welcoming the move.
It expressed its support for entrepreneurs who create original products and build their own brands.
According to the Authority, traders can avoid future enforcement actions by ensuring that the products they sell do not infringe on existing intellectual property rights.
“ACA has taken note of Shiquo’s public sentiment expressing her desire to establish and grow her own distinctive brand. The Authority welcomes this entrepreneurial vision and encourages her, and all traders and entrepreneurs, to pursue it within Kenya’s intellectual property protection framework”, part of the statement from the authority read.
Additionally, the agency explained that Kenya’s intellectual property system is designed to protect innovators, designers, creators, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs who invest time and resources in building genuine brands.
ACA advised that business owners who develop unique brand names, logos, and designs should take steps to protect them through the country’s intellectual property registration systems.
It further highlighted the role of the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), which assists rights holders in registering trademarks and safeguarding their intellectual property from infringement.
By registering trademarks and other intellectual property rights, entrepreneurs can strengthen their businesses while reducing the risk of disputes over branding and product ownership.
Furthermore, the authority stressed that the enforcement action against Shiquo marks the beginning of a legal process rather than its conclusion, noting that her goods are currently preserved pending full investigations.
