Copyright Law Code in Africa

Copyright protection varies widely across African countries.

Africa is a large continent made up of states with vastly different economic and governmental systems. While international treaties like the Berne Convention have improved copyright protection across the continent, state laws and levels of enforcement still vary widely.

International Protection

When looking at a country's level of copyright protection, the first thing to do is to check whether it has signed onto international copyright treaties. The three major treaties, TRIPS, the Berne Convention and WCT, cover most copyright issues. For example, Egypt has signed onto TRIPS, which covers many copyright issues, but not the WCT, which focuses on information technology copyrights.

State Copyright laws

To check a particular state's copyright laws, visit the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which has a collection of copyright laws by state (see Resource for a link).

Enforcement

The existence of a law does not guarantee its enforcement. It is always best to contact a qualified attorney to inquire about a particular country's track record on enforcement.

References

• World Intellectual Property Organization: Members of the WCT
• World Trade Organization: Members of World Trade Organization and TRIPS

Resources

• UNESCO: List of Copyright Laws