South Africa: Patent

The African Organisation for Intellectual Property (OAPI) engaged in strategic discussions during the 2026 WIPO General Assemblies in Geneva, focusing on strengthening international cooperation and promoting innovation across member states. These high-level meetings culminated in the signing of a bilateral work plan with Morocco's industrial property office, marking a significant step in expanding IP-driven economic development partnerships across the Francophone African region.

At the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Addis Ababa this past February, heads of state adopted eight key Annexes to the AfCFTA Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), which was considered a transformative step towards a unified African innovation market.

South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) has made a formal submission in response to the government's planned reforms of the Patents Act and Designs Act.