8 - ‘Justice Be Our Shield and Defender’: An Intellectual Property Rights Regime for Africa*
Corresponding Author(s) : Mshai S. Mwangola
Africa Development,
Vol. 32 No. 3 (2007): Africa Development
Abstract
Protecting intellectual property rights has become essential in encouraging cut- ting-edge scholarship that advances the frontiers of knowledge. For a long time, the majority of Africa’s intelligentsia has worked in local and international envi- ronments that have exploited the continent’s intellectual capital. Even in con- texts where intellectual property rights are enforced, certain constituencies re- main at high risk for exploitation. In this paper I use three case studies to argue for a more comprehensive conversation on this issue encompassing intellectu- als working in different contexts and with diverse agendas. The first of these involves the unequal power dynamics between individuals working in different kinds of institutions, in this particular case, complicated by the global North/ South divide. The second explores the dynamics of power in intellectual rela- tionships while the third deals with the challenges emanating from the develop- ment and use of endogenous epistemologies in conversation and confrontation with modes of scholarship traditionally privileged in the western(ised) academy. How do we move towards a comprehensive intellectual property rights regime that does not inhibit intellectual freedom of exploration as it protects even the most vulnerable from exploitation? How do we foster a vibrant intellectual envi- ronment that is especially nurturing to communities traditionally marginalised within the academy?
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- Arvelo-Jiménez, Nelly, 2004, ‘Kuyujani Orignario: The Yekuana Road to the Overall Protection of their Rights as a People’, in J. Michael Finger and Phillip Schuler, eds., Poor People’s Knowledge: Promoting Intellectual Knowledge in Developing Countries, Washington DC: The World Bank and Oxford UP, pp. 37-51.
- Andanda, Pamela, 2004, ‘A Golden Chance for Medical Ethics in Kenya’, SciDev.Net: Science and Development Network, 15 June, http://www.scidev.net/, Accessed 25 Sept 2005.
- Barnett, Anthony, 2004, ‘Oxford Scientists Accused of Stealing AIDS Orphans’ Blood for Illicit Research’, The Observer, 30 May, Accessed 30 September 2005, http://www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,7369,1227897,00.html
- Boustani, Maroun, 2005, ‘Défis que les pays en développement doivent relever dans les domains de l’enseignment et de la recherché en matière de propriété intellectuelle’, Presenté au Colloque Internationale de l’OMPI sur l’Enseignement et la Recherché en Matière Propriété Intellectuelle’, Juin, Juillet 2005, Accessed 28 September 2005, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html.
- ‘Considering Kenya’s Intellectual Property after TRIPS’, 2001, The Point: Bulletin of the Institute of Economic Affairs 48.
- Finger, J. Michael and Phillip Schuler, eds., 2004, Poor People’s Knowledge: Promoting Intellectual Knowledge in Developing Countries, Washington DC: The World Bank and Oxford UP.
- Fowler, Betsy, J., 2004, ‘Providing Counterfeit Craft Designs’, in J. Michael Finger and Phillip Schuler, eds., Poor People’s Knowledge: Promoting Intellectual Knowledge in Developing Countries, Washington DC: The World Bank and Oxford UP, pp. 113-131.
- Goburdhun, Kaushik, 2005, ‘Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: A Blessing or a Curse? Perspectives from Mauritius’, Paper presented at the CODESRIA 11th General Assembly, Maputo, 6-10 December, 2005.
- Gopalakrishnan, N.S., 2005, ‘Challenges faced by Academic institutions in the Teaching of IP and Carrying Out IP Research’, Paper presented at the International Symposium on Intellectual Property Education and Research, Geneva, 2005. http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html. Accessed 28 September 2005.
- Hesse, Carla, 2003, ‘Literary and Intellectual Property’, Encyclopaedia of the Enlightenment, edited by Alan Charles Kors, Oxford University Press, Northwestern University, http://www.oxfordreference.com, Accessed 29 September 2005.
- Hundt, Reed, 2006, ‘Patently Obvious’, Forbes, Vol, 177, No. 2, p. 36.
- ‘Intellectual property’, 2004, A Dictionary of Computing, Oxford University Press, Oxford Reference Online, Oxford University Press, Northwestern University, http://www.oxfordreference.com, Accessed 20 September 2005.
- ‘Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore’, http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/studies/publications/genetic_resources.htm, Accessed 25 September 2005.
- ‘Intellectual property’, World Intellectual Property Organisation, http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ Accessed 20 September 2005.
- Likimani, Muthoni, 2005, Muthoni Likimani: Fighting without Ceasing, Nairobi: Noni’s Publicity.
- Likimani, Muthoni, 1985, Passbook Number F.47927: Women and the Mau Mau in Kenya, Nairobi: Noni’s Publicity.
- Likimani, Muthoni, 1985, Passbook Number F.47927: Women and the Mau Mau in Kenya, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.
- Lorde, Audre, 1984, ‘The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action’, Sister Outsider: Essays by Audre Lorde, Freedom: The Crossing Press, pp. 40-44.
- Mkandawire, Thandika, 1997, ‘The Social Sciences in Africa: Breaking Local Barriers and Negotiating International Presence’, African Studies Review, Vol. 40, Issue 2, pp. 15-36.
- Mould-Idrissu, Betty, 2005, ‘A Developing Country’s Perspective’, http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/intelprp/perspect.htm, Accessed 29 December 2005.
- Ngetich, Kibet, A., 2005, ‘Indigenous Knowledge, Alternative Medicine and Intellectual Property Rights Concerns in Africa’, Paper presented at the CODESRIA 11th General Assembly, Maputo, 6-10 December 2005.
- Nikiema, Kouliga Daniel, 2005, ‘Défies que les établissement d’enseignement doivent relever dans les domnaines de l’enseignement et de recherche en matière de propriété intellectuelle’, Presenté au Colloque Internationale de l’OMPI sur l’Enseignement et la Recherché en Matiere de Propriete Intellectuelle, Juin, Juillet 2005, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html, Accessed 28 September 2005.
- Njubi, Nesbitt, 2003, ‘African Intellectuals in the Belly of the Beast: Migration, Identity, and the Politics of Exile’, African Issues 1, pp. 70-75.
- Ogada, Tom P. M., 2005, ‘Challenges Faced by Developing Countries in Teaching and Conducting Research on Intellectual Property’, Paper presented at the International Symposium on Intellectual Property Education and Research, Geneva, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html, Accessed 28 September 2005.
- Okwembah, David, Victor Bwiire and Patrick Nzioka, 2004, ‘Shame on Children used in Experiments on AIDS’, Daily Nation, 23 May, http://www.nationmedia.com/ Accessed 30 September 2005.
- ‘Out of Print African Novels/African Novels Reply’, 2005, H-net Africa Discussion log, August 2005–September 2005, http://www.h-net.org/~africa/.
- Penna, Frank J., Monique Thormann and J. Michael Finger, 2004, ‘The Africa Music Project’, in J. Michael Finger and Phillip Schuler, eds., Poor People’s Knowledge: Promoting Intellectual Knowledge in Developing Countries, Washington DC: The World Bank and Oxford University Press, pp. 95-112.
- Reichman, J.H., 2005, ‘University-Industry collaboration: The United States experience’, Paper presented at the International Symposium on Intellectual Property Education and Research, Geneva, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html, Accessed 28 September 2005.
- Sihanya, Ben, 2002, ‘The Constitution and Intellectual Property’, Katiba Notes.1.2., Ed. Institute of Economic Affairs (Kenya).
- Slater, David, 1995, ‘Challenging Western Visions of the Global’, European Journal of Development Research, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 366-388.
- Soetendorp, Ruth, 2005, ‘Collaboration in Intellectual Property Education and Research’, Paper presented at the International Symposium on Intellectual Property Education and Research, Geneva, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html, Accessed 28 September 2005.
- wa Thiong’o, Ngugi, 1998, Penpoints, Gunpoint and Dreams: Towards a Critical Theory of the Arts and the State in Africa, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Zeleza, Paul Tiyambe, 1997, Manufacturing African Studies and Crises, Dakar: CODESRIA.
References
Arvelo-Jiménez, Nelly, 2004, ‘Kuyujani Orignario: The Yekuana Road to the Overall Protection of their Rights as a People’, in J. Michael Finger and Phillip Schuler, eds., Poor People’s Knowledge: Promoting Intellectual Knowledge in Developing Countries, Washington DC: The World Bank and Oxford UP, pp. 37-51.
Andanda, Pamela, 2004, ‘A Golden Chance for Medical Ethics in Kenya’, SciDev.Net: Science and Development Network, 15 June, http://www.scidev.net/, Accessed 25 Sept 2005.
Barnett, Anthony, 2004, ‘Oxford Scientists Accused of Stealing AIDS Orphans’ Blood for Illicit Research’, The Observer, 30 May, Accessed 30 September 2005, http://www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,7369,1227897,00.html
Boustani, Maroun, 2005, ‘Défis que les pays en développement doivent relever dans les domains de l’enseignment et de la recherché en matière de propriété intellectuelle’, Presenté au Colloque Internationale de l’OMPI sur l’Enseignement et la Recherché en Matière Propriété Intellectuelle’, Juin, Juillet 2005, Accessed 28 September 2005, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html.
‘Considering Kenya’s Intellectual Property after TRIPS’, 2001, The Point: Bulletin of the Institute of Economic Affairs 48.
Finger, J. Michael and Phillip Schuler, eds., 2004, Poor People’s Knowledge: Promoting Intellectual Knowledge in Developing Countries, Washington DC: The World Bank and Oxford UP.
Fowler, Betsy, J., 2004, ‘Providing Counterfeit Craft Designs’, in J. Michael Finger and Phillip Schuler, eds., Poor People’s Knowledge: Promoting Intellectual Knowledge in Developing Countries, Washington DC: The World Bank and Oxford UP, pp. 113-131.
Goburdhun, Kaushik, 2005, ‘Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights: A Blessing or a Curse? Perspectives from Mauritius’, Paper presented at the CODESRIA 11th General Assembly, Maputo, 6-10 December, 2005.
Gopalakrishnan, N.S., 2005, ‘Challenges faced by Academic institutions in the Teaching of IP and Carrying Out IP Research’, Paper presented at the International Symposium on Intellectual Property Education and Research, Geneva, 2005. http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html. Accessed 28 September 2005.
Hesse, Carla, 2003, ‘Literary and Intellectual Property’, Encyclopaedia of the Enlightenment, edited by Alan Charles Kors, Oxford University Press, Northwestern University, http://www.oxfordreference.com, Accessed 29 September 2005.
Hundt, Reed, 2006, ‘Patently Obvious’, Forbes, Vol, 177, No. 2, p. 36.
‘Intellectual property’, 2004, A Dictionary of Computing, Oxford University Press, Oxford Reference Online, Oxford University Press, Northwestern University, http://www.oxfordreference.com, Accessed 20 September 2005.
‘Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore’, http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/studies/publications/genetic_resources.htm, Accessed 25 September 2005.
‘Intellectual property’, World Intellectual Property Organisation, http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/ Accessed 20 September 2005.
Likimani, Muthoni, 2005, Muthoni Likimani: Fighting without Ceasing, Nairobi: Noni’s Publicity.
Likimani, Muthoni, 1985, Passbook Number F.47927: Women and the Mau Mau in Kenya, Nairobi: Noni’s Publicity.
Likimani, Muthoni, 1985, Passbook Number F.47927: Women and the Mau Mau in Kenya, Connecticut: Greenwood Press.
Lorde, Audre, 1984, ‘The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action’, Sister Outsider: Essays by Audre Lorde, Freedom: The Crossing Press, pp. 40-44.
Mkandawire, Thandika, 1997, ‘The Social Sciences in Africa: Breaking Local Barriers and Negotiating International Presence’, African Studies Review, Vol. 40, Issue 2, pp. 15-36.
Mould-Idrissu, Betty, 2005, ‘A Developing Country’s Perspective’, http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/intelprp/perspect.htm, Accessed 29 December 2005.
Ngetich, Kibet, A., 2005, ‘Indigenous Knowledge, Alternative Medicine and Intellectual Property Rights Concerns in Africa’, Paper presented at the CODESRIA 11th General Assembly, Maputo, 6-10 December 2005.
Nikiema, Kouliga Daniel, 2005, ‘Défies que les établissement d’enseignement doivent relever dans les domnaines de l’enseignement et de recherche en matière de propriété intellectuelle’, Presenté au Colloque Internationale de l’OMPI sur l’Enseignement et la Recherché en Matiere de Propriete Intellectuelle, Juin, Juillet 2005, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html, Accessed 28 September 2005.
Njubi, Nesbitt, 2003, ‘African Intellectuals in the Belly of the Beast: Migration, Identity, and the Politics of Exile’, African Issues 1, pp. 70-75.
Ogada, Tom P. M., 2005, ‘Challenges Faced by Developing Countries in Teaching and Conducting Research on Intellectual Property’, Paper presented at the International Symposium on Intellectual Property Education and Research, Geneva, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html, Accessed 28 September 2005.
Okwembah, David, Victor Bwiire and Patrick Nzioka, 2004, ‘Shame on Children used in Experiments on AIDS’, Daily Nation, 23 May, http://www.nationmedia.com/ Accessed 30 September 2005.
‘Out of Print African Novels/African Novels Reply’, 2005, H-net Africa Discussion log, August 2005–September 2005, http://www.h-net.org/~africa/.
Penna, Frank J., Monique Thormann and J. Michael Finger, 2004, ‘The Africa Music Project’, in J. Michael Finger and Phillip Schuler, eds., Poor People’s Knowledge: Promoting Intellectual Knowledge in Developing Countries, Washington DC: The World Bank and Oxford University Press, pp. 95-112.
Reichman, J.H., 2005, ‘University-Industry collaboration: The United States experience’, Paper presented at the International Symposium on Intellectual Property Education and Research, Geneva, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html, Accessed 28 September 2005.
Sihanya, Ben, 2002, ‘The Constitution and Intellectual Property’, Katiba Notes.1.2., Ed. Institute of Economic Affairs (Kenya).
Slater, David, 1995, ‘Challenging Western Visions of the Global’, European Journal of Development Research, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 366-388.
Soetendorp, Ruth, 2005, ‘Collaboration in Intellectual Property Education and Research’, Paper presented at the International Symposium on Intellectual Property Education and Research, Geneva, http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/meetings/iped_sym_05/program_detailed.html, Accessed 28 September 2005.
wa Thiong’o, Ngugi, 1998, Penpoints, Gunpoint and Dreams: Towards a Critical Theory of the Arts and the State in Africa, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Zeleza, Paul Tiyambe, 1997, Manufacturing African Studies and Crises, Dakar: CODESRIA.