HIGH-LEVEL IP CONFERENCE 2025

Intellectual Property and Technical Cooperation in Africa: Law, Policy and Path

20—21 August 2025

Faculty of Law, University of Turku, Finland

Confirmed Keynote Speakers: Justin Hughes (Loyola Los Angeles Law School), Ruth Okediji (Harvard Law School), and Edward Kwakwa (Assistant Director General at WIPO).

Confirmed speakers include: Peter Yu (TAMU Law School), Michael Blakeney (Western Australia Law School), Chidi Oguamanam (University of Ottawa), Graham Dutfield (Leeds Law School), Janewa Osei-Tutu (University of Miami), Phillip Johnson (Cardiff Law School), and Olufunmilayo B. Arewa (George Mason University).

Call for Papers

A high-Level Conference in the Framework of the Research Council of Finland project “Technical Assistance as an Enabler of the Constitutionalizing of Intellectual Property Norms in Africa” (TACIP 2022—2027)

Intellectual Property Technical Assistance may not be a new concept, but it gained prominence in the post-World War II era when many former colonies achieved independence. The United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIRPI), the predecessor of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), was tasked with providing technical assistance to the newly independent states of the Global South. This initiative aimed to integrate these states into the international intellectual property system and promote their economic development. From its inception, WIPO was mandated to continue offering technical assistance.

In Africa, WIPO played a crucial role in establishing two major regional intellectual property organizations: the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). Today, both OAPI and ARIPO have evolved into self-sufficient, autonomous organizations that offer a wide range of services to their clients and member states in the field of intellectual property. It appears that the goal of integrating African countries into the international intellectual property system is being realized. However, the pressing question remains: has the technical cooperation from WIPO and the introduction of modern intellectual property laws and services led to significant economic development in African countries?

This two-day high-level conference will gather prominent intellectual property scholars, an Assistant Director General and a Director from WIPO, and the Directors General of OAPI and ARIPO, along with other regional and national stakeholders from Africa, to deliberate on the conference theme.

Topics and questions include, but are not limited to:

Law

The Role of Intellectual Property Technical Assistance in Globalization: Is the provision of intellectual property technical assistance driving the globalization of intellectual property law, or is there more to consider? Should the assistance be tailored to incorporate the TRIPS flexibilities and transitional arrangements necessary for developing countries, or should it follow a one-size-fits-all approach? Should the provision be based on an assessment of the recipients’ needs or the providers’ capabilities? Specifically in the context of Africa, to what extent has technical cooperation from WIPO influenced the development of intellectual property laws on the continent, particularly regarding OAPI, ARIPO, and AU member states, as well as the AfCFTA Protocol on Intellectual Property? How have these laws contributed to the economic development of African countries?

Policy

Public and private interest balance: Do the African Union, ARIPO, and OAPI have specific policies regarding the technical assistance they require that address the public interest needs of their member states? If so, what are the configurations and nature of these policies? If not, is it time to develop such policies, and what should their form be? Are there specific technical assistance or capacity-building needs unique to Africa? What role do intellectual property law and policy play in the discussion surrounding economic inequality?

Path

A differentiated or holistic approach to intellectual property technical assistance: Beyond the mainstream areas of intellectual property, should laws and policies focus on areas where African countries could benefit from enhanced and appropriately tailored protections such as traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions, and genetic resources? What advantages would such policies offer? What are the most pressing challenges faced by courts, administrative bodies, or advisory agencies regarding intellectual property in Africa? What additional roles and tasks should be considered to foster creativity and innovation in Africa?

Submission guidelines:

Please submit an abstract between 150 and 300 words and your biographical details to the conference organizers at tacipconference@utu.fi. Your abstract should relate to one or more of the conference themes. The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2025. Successful participants will be notified by March 31, 2025.

Place and Expenses:

The conference will be held at the University of Turku. Except for the invited participants, all participants are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses. The conference organisers will provide coffee, lunch, a conference dinner, and a social programme.

On behalf of the conference committee:

Daniel Acquah, Principal Investigator, Co-Chair, Conference Committee
Sean Morris, Co-Chair, Conference Committee
Ama Opoku Acquah, Member, Conference Committee
Kirsi Tuohela, Member, Conference Committee