Region-focused IP developments curated by the IIPLA newsroom, including policy shifts, litigation, brand disputes, patent activity, and enforcement updates.
During a regional forum supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization, The Gambia’s Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) focal person, Mr. Colley, emphasized the importance of integrating intellectual property protection into business s…
IIPLA reviews the patents implications of Patents, Quarterly IP Newsletter May, June, with practical notes for Africa IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
Nigeria’s creative and technology industries have long struggled to convert intellectual property into capital due to lenders’ demand for physical collateral. The proposed Intellectual Property Securitisation Framework seeks to recognize copyrights, patents, trademarks, and licensing revenues as valuable assets for fi…
STL has won a decisive patent dispute against Fujikura Ltd. after the European Patent Office’s Technical Board of Appeal revoked Fujikura’s European Patent EP 3796060 in full. The ruling, issued on June 24, 2026, settles the UK patent conflict in STL’s favor and strengthens its intellectual property position across Eu…
Yiwu, China’s manufacturing powerhouse, has evolved beyond traditional contract manufacturing to become a key global supplier of World Cup-related products. Fueled by a strategic embrace of intellectual property rights and rapid supply chain capabilities, Yiwu merchants are now shaping global football merchandise mark…
IIPLA reviews the litigation implications of Litigation, AfCFTA Chief Honoured, Advancing Africa, with practical notes for Africa IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
IIPLA reviews the patents implications of Patents, S.W.A.T. Exiles, Sony Pictures Television, with practical notes for Middle East IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
IIPLA reviews the patents implications of Patents, South African, POLB, with practical notes for Africa IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
In response to rising concerns over AI-generated misinformation during Kenya's politically charged period, a training programme in Mombasa County guided journalists through intellectual property rights, data protection, and mental health strategies. Legal experts emphasized the importance of verifying AI-created conte…
At a recent training in Mombasa, Kenyan journalists and content creators were urged to enhance their understanding of intellectual property laws, prioritize mental well-being, and navigate the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence. The Hadithi za Wanahabari workshop, hosted by Baraza Media Lab and MMS Ad…
Roland Berger, the European-rooted strategy consultancy, has reaffirmed its commitment to the Middle East as it celebrates 20 years in the region. The firm reported its strongest financial year ever, surpassing €1 billion in global revenues for the first time since its 1967 founding. With offices across Bahrain, UAE,…
The Intellectual Property Club of Maretha International Preparatory High School secured first place at the Regional Intellectual Property Club Competition held in Harare, Zimbabwe. President Boakai honored the students for their exemplary performance, highlighting the alignment with national development goals focused…
Despite Afrobeats’ rise as a dominant global music genre, African creators, particularly in Nigeria, are not fully benefiting financially due to weak intellectual property systems and foreign ownership models. At the BusinessDay Creative Entertainment Summit 2026, experts emphasized the need for formalized IP registra…
Kenya is witnessing a significant shift in the legal understanding of royalties, with authorities and courts adopting a broader definition. This evolution affects how royalties are classified for licensing and tax purposes, influencing businesses engaged in intellectual property transactions within the country.
Letlhokwa Mpedi and Thebe Ikalafeng emphasize Africa's vulnerability to AI-enabled cultural extraction due to lack of protective laws. They advocate for AI-specific intellectual property rights and collective regulatory action under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to preserve indigenous knowledge and crea…
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has launched an Intellectual Property Benchbook tailored for Nigeria’s judiciary, marking the first Sub-Saharan African national contribution to WIPO’s Global IP Benchbook Series. Created in partnership with Nigeria’s National Judicial Institute, the Benchbook provid…
Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi, emphasized strengthening intellectual property (IP) legal frameworks and institutional awareness in Ghana’s creative and manufacturing sectors during a workshop organized by Fashion Forum Africa. The event, a precursor to the Alternative Fashion Fabric…
As South African companies accelerate digital innovation and regional trade, Adams & Adams observes a significant surge in demand for intellectual property protection. The firm notes that IP assets are now central to business value and growth, with trademarks and patents becoming critical for companies entering compet…
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has uncovered a fraudulent listing of Clinton Ward Myburgh as a non-executive director with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). The company denies any association with Myburgh and has filed criminal charges including fraud, extortion, and misrepresentation w…
On June 1, 2026, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in partnership with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, convened a key stakeholders meeting in Abuja to discuss accelerating the country’s innovation system. The event gathered senior government officials, private sector le…
Nigeria and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have agreed to intensify collaboration aimed at transforming Nigeria’s intellectual property assets into financial wealth. The partnership focuses on commercializing university research, supporting the creative economy, and expanding technical cooperation…
In April 2026, Taylor Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, filed groundbreaking trademark applications with the USPTO to protect her spoken voice and a distinctive visual image from her Eras Tour. These filings represent an unprecedented use of trademark law to address the challenges posed by AI-generated deepfakes…
Nigeria has inaugurated the first United Nations intellectual property office in Sub-Saharan Africa, located at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) headquarters. This development aims to enhance intellectual property awareness, protection, and cooperation across the region, positioning Nigeria as a pivotal…
Intellectual property stakeholders from across Africa will convene in Nairobi in November 2026 for the 7th edition of a pivotal summit focused on leveraging IP as a strategic economic asset. The event will explore practical implementation strategies to enhance trade, industrialisation, and the creative economy within…
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