Intellectual Property: What you need to know

To many it must had been seen as an attempt by Vanilla Ice to make a come back to the limelight, when he went to press about a month ago claiming that Suge Knight never held him by his ankles, off a 20th-floor balcony back in 1989. Whether his claim is true or not is of little importance at the moment, what matters is what led to the alleged confrontation-Intellectual Property (IP). Apparently cool had sampled a material from Knight’s company without consent.

Though the said material never became popular, the heavy framed Suge Knight bullied Vanilla Ice into signing over royalties from his smash Ice Ice Baby and a percentage of dough from the white boy’s hit song went to him. 

Bring it back home (for those who don't know am Kenyan). The year is 2004, Kleptomeniacs are topping the chat with the big tune Tuendelee, but there's disquiet in the streets, reason being “niendele ama nisiendele” which klepto altered to “tuendele au tusiendele” are words by Johnie of k-shaka. About a year prior to this one of Tanzania’s greatest emcee professor Jay, was trading punches with Kenya’s kapuka sensation at the time Logomba's over the use of the Former's phrase “Piga Makofi tafadhali”.

About 36 months later, the hapo sawa hit maker was at it again, this time with uganda's chameleon over the latter’s use of nikusaidaje instrumental which was a collaborative effort of professor Jay and Feeroz. Again cause of beef intellectual property. 

Proffesor Jay

A street legend has it that Kalamashaka would be millionaires today living in the suburbs and pushing fancy wheels, had producer Ted Josiah (allegedly) not played them, in their contract with the cigarette maker Benson&Hedges in the late 90s. Almost a replica script set the reel rolling on the 2007 ‘street court’ drama regarding the monthly event, WaPI. The battle had Muki Garang’ and Mwafrika standing on one side, while Buddha Blaze, his management firm SparkAfrika, and British Council on the other. Once again intellectual property came into play, with Muki claiming that WaPI(Words and Pictures) was his brainchild that had been hijacked by Buddha Blaze. In defense, Blaze stated that there had been a competitive bid to manage the event at British Council, and through his company he emerged the victor (the two have since recociled). 

Question is what is intellectual property? This is a work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.  Earlier today I had the privilege to attend a workshop on IP at the Nailab, moderated by patent agent Dr. Isaac Rutenberg.  

The overriding message at the seminar was the constant need by creatives to protect there God-given invaluable idea as through  a patent, copyright, or trademark, and to read keenly that contract before spilling ink to paper with a signature. 

Suge Knight’s body size might had helped him get his way to Vanilla Ice’ account, but you may not be as lucky. The likes of L.O.X, Dr. Dre and recently Young Buck have had to see huge sums of their creative earnings unduly going to other people’s pocket, for not understanding contractual terms and conditions.

P.S: This post is copyrighted so, don't copy meeeeeeeeeee! (In Missy Elliott's voice)