Africa: Intellectual Property

Nigeria is reinforcing its commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship through a new strategic partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). By signing a Memorandum of Understanding between SMEDAN and WIPO, the Federal Government aims to make intellectual property protection more accessible for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), helping businesses turn their ideas, brands, and innovations into valuable commercial assets.

Tanzania has enacted sweeping reforms to its intellectual property framework through the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2026, formally recognizing ARIPO registrations and introducing protection for collective marks, certification marks, and well-known trade marks. The amendments provide retrospective recognition of ARIPO trade mark, patent and design registrations dating back to 1999, while expanding the scope of registrable marks to include non-traditional forms such as 3D marks, colours, and

Patents are an important form of intellectual property (IP) because they give inventors the exclusive right to use and commercially exploit their inventions for a limited period. This protection encourages innovation by allowing inventors and businesses to benefit from the time, effort and resources invested in developing new products and processes.

Collaboration is an integral feature of modern music production. A commercially successful song may involve songwriters, composers, producers, arrangers, sound engineers, session musicians and other contributors, each performing different functions in bringing a musical project to completion.

Celebrity-driven merchandise has become increasingly commonplace, particularly in an era where online design tools, print-on-demand services and readily available images make it easy to create products featuring recognisable public figures.

Uganda's Ministry of Justice and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau are launching a new copyright management system designed to modernise copyright administration and strengthen protections for creators. The system aims to enhance transparency in royalty collection and distribution while streamlining registration procedures and providing more effective enforcement mechanisms for rights holders in Uganda's creative industries.

Celebrity-driven merchandise has become increasingly commonplace, particularly in an era where online design tools, print-on-demand services and readily available images make it easy to create products featuring recognisable public figures.

Uganda's Ministry of Justice and the Uganda Registration Services Bureau are launching a new copyright management system designed to modernise copyright administration and strengthen protections for creators. The system aims to enhance transparency in royalty collection and distribution while streamlining registration procedures and providing more effective enforcement mechanisms for rights holders in Uganda's creative industries.

Tanzania has enacted sweeping reforms to its intellectual property framework through the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2026, formally recognizing ARIPO registrations and introducing protection for collective marks, certification marks, and well-known trade marks. The amendments provide retrospective recognition of ARIPO trade mark, patent and design registrations dating back to 1999, while expanding the scope of registrable marks to include non-traditional forms such as 3D marks, colours, and

The Fair Competition Commission (FCC) of Mainland Tanzania has clarified that foreign trademark registrations may be used to support applications for customs recordation.

Nigeria is reinforcing its commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship through a new strategic partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). By signing a Memorandum of Understanding between SMEDAN and WIPO, the Federal Government aims to make intellectual property protection more accessible for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), helping businesses turn their ideas, brands, and innovations into valuable commercial assets.

Celebrity-driven merchandise has become increasingly commonplace, particularly in an era where online design tools, print-on-demand services and readily available images make it easy to create products featuring recognisable public figures.