The World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade‐Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights in article 7 states that the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRs) “should contribute to the promotion of technological innovation and to the transfer and dissemination of technology, to the mutual advantage of producers and users of technological knowledge and in a manner conducive to social and economic welfare”. This article examines the developmental claims for IPRs in developing countries and least developed countries with a particular focus on sub‐Saharan Africa.
Namibia is world-renowned for its incredibly dark skies by the astronomy community, and yet, the country is not well recognised as a dark sky destination by tourists and travellers. Forged by a collaboration between the Universities of Oxford and Namibia, together we are using astronomy as a means for capacity-building and sustainable socio-economic growth via educating tour guides and promoting dark sky tourism to relevant stakeholders.
This article examines the role of African countries in the debates in the WTO concerning the establishment of a system for the registration of geographical indications (GIs). It notes the conflict between ‘Old World’ and ‘New World’ countries over the forms which GI protection should take and the attempt of the European countries to enlist African support for its conception of sui generis GI protection. The article notes the recruitment by the WIPO of African support for its revival of the Lisbon Agreement to protect GIs and concludes with the response of Ethiopia on the protection of its coffee brands.
This article examines continental, sub-regional and national initiatives in the formulation of intellectual property policy Africa. The article is divided into seven parts. The first looks at the relationship between IP and economic development. The second part examines the role of IP regional integration and trade. The third part looks at African regional trade agreements. Next, the article surveys the activities of sub-regional IP systems in Africa: the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété (OAPI). The fifth part looks at the recent formation of the Pan African Intellectual Property Organization (PAIPO) and its relationship with ARIPO and OAPI. The sixth part gives a brief overview of the efforts made in designing national IP polices. The concluding section summarizes the IP policy-making process in Africa.
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