We are pleased to report that the industrial strike action undertaken by the Registrar General's Department and Industrial Property Office on 20 January 2022 has been called off.

Africa's mobile money market is entering a new phase of regional integration, with payment rails becoming increasingly central to commerce and platform growth. Major developments include Vodacom Tanzania's partnership with Thunes for real-time international payments, MTN Rwanda's strong mobile money earnings, and Tunisia's launch of TUNPAY to unify mobile payment systems nationwide. These shifts mark a transition from domestic mobile wallet adoption to a more interoperable regional payment architecture that

Financing-led adoption is emerging as the primary driver of EV uptake in African markets, particularly within commercial fleet segments. Operators such as BasiGo in Nairobi are using leasing...

ARIPO and OAPI Host Strategic Ambassadors' Luncheon in Geneva

The chairman of the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority (EGIPA), Hisham Azmy, met with Japan’s Ambassador to Egypt, Fumio Iwai, in Cairo in March, to discuss future collaboration and overcoming...

Countries in Northern Africa, including Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt have been increasing their focus on anti-counterfeiting and protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

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African nations are accelerating digital trade infrastructure through the AfCFTA framework, with Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria piloting cross-border systems while governments strengthen data protection and tax frameworks. Hardware innovation, 5G deployment and fintech convergence are creating new commercial pathways, but market access now depends as much on regulatory alignment as commercial capability. The question facing businesses is whether they can build governance readiness fast enough to compete in Afri

Africa's digital economy gateway evolved rapidly in Q2 2026 as smartphone taxation, device compliance enforcement, and contactless payment expansion converged across multiple markets. From Kenya's proposed handset excise duties to Cameroon's device blocking measures, and from Apple's Tap to Pay launch in South Africa to widespread payment infrastructure rollouts, the quarter revealed how device access, mobile onboarding, and digital payments are reshaping consumer finance across the continent.

Affordability remains the defining factor in African automotive markets, with used-vehicle imports continuing to dominate demand in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa throughout February-March.

Leppi fabric dyed using local plants is the traditional fabric of the Foutah Djallon region in Guinea. Its PGI designation, recently granted by OAPI, safeguards the fabric from misuse including counterfeiting.

The Senegalese Customs Service executed a series of search and seizure operations during mid-November, forming part of a nation-wide strategy to address the distribution and sale of counterfeit narcotics and medicines.

A Kenyan startup company, Pyrogen, has developed an eco-friendly alternative to traditional concrete by including bio-char in its concrete mix, allowing it to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2).

On 15 April 2025, the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) held a meeting to discuss IP protection, commercialisation strategies and innovation excellence.

The Anti-Counterfeit Authority ("ACA") launched the Anti-Counterfeit Authority Integrated Management System ("AIMS") on 28 February 2022 and, thereafter, adopted a three (3) phased out implementation approach.

Kenya's Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) is beginning to show results, with nineteen applications submitted since its launch in 2023. The program, initiated by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI)...

The Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) relocated to its new offices at the junction of Musa Gitau Road & Kabarisan Avenue on 2 January 2018.

The Kenya Industrial Property Institute has introduced a digital transformation in intellectual property services by launching an online filing system. This new platform enables applicants to electronically file patents, industrial designs, and utility models while processing payments through a streamlined digital interface. The modernization initiative represents a significant step toward improving efficiency and accessibility in Kenya's IP administration.

The Kenyan High Court has delivered a landmark judgment nullifying a controversial directive that would have required KIPI Board approval for intellectual property registrations. This decision addresses fundamental questions about the proper allocation of authority between Kenya's IP governance bodies and the technical functions of trademark and patent administration. The ruling has significant implications for how intellectual property rights are processed and protected in Kenya's legal framework.

Kenya has taken recent measures regarding anti-counterfeiting to be implemented by the Anti-Counterfeiting Authority (ACA).