This background paper was prepared for UNECA and prepared by the authors to inform Assessing Regional Integration in Africa VIII. The paper benefited from comments and suggestions by staff of UNECA and AUC. However, the views expressed in the paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily...

Human development, including not just economic growth but also the capability for longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives, depends on innovation and creativity. While various economic, technological, social and other factors influence innovative and creative activity, intellectual property...

The research in this publication shed new light on the diverse nature of innovation and creativity in African settings, and on the different IP policies and practices related to innovation and creativity on the continent. When linked with broader development objectives and models, these findings...

In the global knowledge economy, intellectual property (IP) rights – and the innovations they are meant to spur – are important determinants of progress. But what does this mean for the nations of Africa? One view is that strong IP protection can facilitate innovation in African settings....

This paper discusses the three main approaches countries around the world have taken towards copyright exceptions and limitations. After examining the advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches, it suggests a preferred model for developing countries. It then addresses the...

The African Copyright and Access to Knowledge (ACA2K) project is a pan-African research network of academics and researchers from law, economics and the information sciences, spanning Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. Research conducted by the project...

Intellectual property (IP) policy is an important part of economic growth and human development. International commitments harmonized in intellectual property treaties exist in tension with local needs for flexibility. Using a novel data collection and visualization method, this paper tracks the...

Since the TRIPS Agreement, IP training and education activities have become more prominent. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)'s Development Agenda and other IP reform efforts have included recommendations for IP education. WIPO and the WIPO Academy are prominent actors in IP...

A more robust and nuanced understanding of the role IP really plays in society is, in turn, a prerequisite to creating IP systems that drive innovation, economic growth, and human freedom. A holistic appreciation of not just laws and policies, but also practices related to IP and innovation will...