Publication

This brief looks at the development of intellectual property (IP) policies of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa. Giving a broad overview of IP regulations in LDCs, the brief identifies some of the laws that need to be issued before the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) comes into force. The author suggests that although some developments with regard to IP have taken place in Africa, such as the TRIPS extensions, challenges and underlying issues remain.