Africa: Intellectual Property

Mobile applications represent significant business investments comprising multiple forms of intellectual property, yet the underlying IP rights are frequently overlooked. Understanding how copyright, trade marks, design rights and patents interact in the mobile app context is essential to avoid ownership disputes, commercialisation restrictions and avoidable legal risk.

The World Intellectual Property Organization and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization convened their annual Regional Technology and Innovation Support Centre Network Meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, bringing together stakeholders to discuss the strategic role of patent information in driving research, technology transfer, and industrial development across the ARIPO region. The meeting emphasized strengthening national innovation ecosystems and supporting the commercialization of technological

The African Organisation for Intellectual Property (OAPI) demonstrated how traditional artisans can leverage intellectual property tools to protect and commercialize their crafts at Cameroon's premier handicrafts exhibition. The organization emphasized the strategic role of IP frameworks in transforming traditional knowledge into economic opportunities while maintaining cultural authenticity.

Mobile applications represent significant business investments comprising multiple forms of intellectual property, yet the underlying IP rights are frequently overlooked. Understanding how copyright, trade marks, design rights and patents interact in the mobile app context is essential to avoid ownership disputes, commercialisation restrictions and avoidable legal risk.

Nollywood has become one of the world's largest film industries by output volume, yet the legal framework supporting its actors, producers, and distributors remains poorly understood by many emerging entertainers. This analysis examines critical questions of ownership, financial management, taxation, and commercial obligations that arise when Nigerian films move from script to screen, using Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde's 2026 directorial debut as a practical case study.

In a significant development for Nigeria's digital economy and competition law landscape, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices, unlawful exploitation of news content, and other potentially unfair market conduct.

Mobile applications represent significant business investments comprising multiple forms of intellectual property, yet the underlying IP rights are frequently overlooked. Understanding how copyright, trade marks, design rights and patents interact in the mobile app context is essential to avoid ownership disputes, commercialisation restrictions and avoidable legal risk.

Many businesses invest heavily in building their brand before checking whether their chosen name is available, only to face costly rebranding when conflicts arise. A trade mark availability search and proper registration can prevent these expensive disruptions and protect one of your most valuable business assets.

As artificial intelligence transforms content creation across industries, businesses face mounting questions about transparency, consumer trust, and legal compliance. With the EU mandating disclosure of AI-generated content and South Africa developing its own AI policy framework, companies must navigate emerging risks around intellectual property infringement, misleading representations, and brand protection in an increasingly synthetic media landscape.

The statutory basis of the 6th August 2026 executive order, what it replaces, what it preserves, where discretion still sits, and why it matters to investors, lenders, and project sponsors.

Many businesses invest heavily in building their brand before checking whether their chosen name is available, only to face costly rebranding when conflicts arise. A trade mark availability search and proper registration can prevent these expensive disruptions and protect one of your most valuable business assets.

Cape Verde's new Intellectual Property Code introduces a significant change to trade mark registration validity periods, shifting the calculation from grant date to filing date. Trade mark owners must now adapt their renewal monitoring practices to align with this updated 10-year term framework.