WIPO-ARIPO seminar calls for strengthening of IP management in Africa

The call was made at the ongoing WIPO-ARIPO Regional Seminar at the Hyatt Hotel in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The seminar, titled Copyright: A Driver of the Creative Economy, is organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in collaboration with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO).

The event brings together leaders in intellectual property from across the continent, including collective management organisations (CMOs), policymakers, government representatives, and other stakeholders to explore how copyright can catalyse the growth of the creative economy, contributing to Africa's economic, social, and cultural development.

In his opening remarks, ARIPO director general Bemanya Twebaze said the event underscores the critical role of copyright in empowering Africa's creative industries and advancing the continent’s global competitiveness. Twebaze emphasised the crucial role that copyright plays in the creative economy across the continent and encouraged stakeholders to remain focused on strengthening rights management systems across all facets of the cultural and creative industries.

“Thanks to the digital revolution, African film, music and books have made great progress in commercialising their brands and connecting with global markets allowing for their creative industries to expand and securing the continent’s place as an important contributor to the global arts,” WIPO’s copyright development senior coordinator, Sherine Greiss, said.

“This is a positive development provided that African creators can trace the success of their works which is only secured through an enabling copyright ecosystem addressing both the legal framework and an effective rights management system,” she added.

The Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) is participating in the event and is represented by executive director Eddie Hatitye and board chairperson Marcus Gora.

Speaking at the event, Hatitye implored CMOs to work together towards tangible improvements that ensure fair pay for all rights holders across the CCIs in Africa.

WIPO is an agency of the United Nations focused on providing services that enable creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs to protect and promote their intellectual property. WIPO provides practical tools, data, and insights aimed at boosting efficiency in rights management at a global level.

The event in Harare is a follow-up to the Nairobi Strategic Plan, established in Nairobi in 2019, and the WIPO-ARIPO Sub-Regional Conference held in Harare in 2022.

Key topics on the agenda include the evolving role of copyright in the publishing, music, and film industries, efficient rights management, and the interface between intellectual property and sustainable development.