Africa: Intellectual Property

Cape Verde has introduced a modernised Industrial Property Code that brings significant changes to the country's intellectual property framework.

A South African court has delivered a decisive ruling on the limits of post-employment competition, finding that two senior employees unlawfully used their former employer's proprietary software, client relationships, and confidential information to launch a competing business. The judgment reinforces that fiduciary duties can extend beyond employment termination and that building a business on a former employer's investment constitutes unlawful springboarding rather than legitimate entrepreneurship.

China's elimination of tariffs on Nigerian imports presents unprecedented market access to 1.4 billion consumers, but Nigerian exporters face critical intellectual property vulnerabilities...

This article explores the comprehensive framework of trade dress and get-up protection in Nigeria, examining how visual elements beyond traditional trademarks can secure brand identity. It delves into the legal mechanisms available for protecting the overall appearance and presentation of products in the Nigerian market.

Nigeria's digital economy has fundamentally transformed how intellectual property rights are created, exploited, and enforced, yet the country's IP framework remains rooted in analogue-era legislation.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, currently hosted in North America across the United States, Canada and Mexico will generate substantial value from commercial activities including broadcasting rights, sponsorships, merchandising, licensing and digital engagement. These commercial activities are sustained by a network of intellectual property (IP) rights, including trademarks, copyright, patents and image rights.

Nigeria's digital economy has fundamentally transformed how intellectual property rights are created, exploited, and enforced, yet the country's IP framework remains rooted in analogue-era legislation.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, currently hosted in North America across the United States, Canada and Mexico will generate substantial value from commercial activities including broadcasting rights, sponsorships, merchandising, licensing and digital engagement. These commercial activities are sustained by a network of intellectual property (IP) rights, including trademarks, copyright, patents and image rights.

The administration of intellectual property in Kenya is currently fragmented. The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (“KIPI”) administers patents, trade marks, utility models and industrial designs...

Nigeria's entertainment industry has evolved into a sophisticated commercial sector, yet high-profile disputes over master recordings, royalty entitlements, and contract terms continue to plague relationships between artists, labels, and managers. This comprehensive legal analysis examines the contractual framework governing Nigeria's creative economy, from recording agreements and publishing deals to endorsement contracts and distribution arrangements, revealing how proper legal structuring can protect sta

Nigeria's digital economy has fundamentally transformed how intellectual property rights are created, exploited, and enforced, yet the country's IP framework remains rooted in analogue-era legislation.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, currently hosted in North America across the United States, Canada and Mexico will generate substantial value from commercial activities including broadcasting rights, sponsorships, merchandising, licensing and digital engagement. These commercial activities are sustained by a network of intellectual property (IP) rights, including trademarks, copyright, patents and image rights.