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The intersection of intellectual property (IP) and genomics is reshaping the landscape of healthcare, biotechnology, and business in Nigeria. Genomics—the study of an organism’s entire genetic material—has profound implications for medical research, personalised medicine, agriculture, and pharmaceutical innovations. However, ensuring equitable benefits and commercial viability requires a robust IP framework.

Intellectual property rights cover exclusive rights originating from the mental labour of their creators or inventors and include copyright, trademarks, industrial designs, patents, geographical indications, and plant variety rights.

IP rights may be the subject of a licence, where the proprietor of an IP right (the licensor) while maintaining the ownership, authorises a third person (the licensee) to use and exploit the IP right during trade, under the terms and conditions set out by both parties.

Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, the use of patents has been one of the valuable tools used for the protection of inventions, particularly inventions that are considered to have commercial value and appeal.

Owning a patent gives you a valuable property right, it allows an inventor to commercially make, use, and sell inventions for a specified period.

Understanding trade secrets is fundamental to protect IP but it is also essential to innovation on a global scale. Despite countless litigations, many countries, like South Africa, still lack specific laws related to trade secrets. This begs the question, does the common law offer enough protection?

Introduction

By the end of 2019, humanity was confronted by a new infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus, the covid-19 that led, on March 11th, 2020 the Word Health Organization (WHO) to declare the state of a global pandemic.

Africa is a vast continent with 54 countries and a plethora of legal traditions that can bewilder trademark applicants wishing to protect their intellectual property in this fast-growing region. The continent boasts two regional agreements, which allow multi-jurisdictional trademark applications: the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO). These two organisations cover 27 countries and greatly facilitate the process of applying for and protecting trademarks in Africa.

Sudan is the third largest country on the African continent and the Nile river traverses the country from South to North, while the Red Sea makes Sudan a bridge between Africa and the Middle East.

Endowed with rich natural resources, Sudan was considered the 17th fastest-growing economy in the world in 2010 given the rapid development of the country largely from oil profits, despite international sanctions.

With the end of the transition period, on December 31, 2020, it is important to review the actual changes concerning Industrial Property assets filed in the European Union.

We have elaborated briefly some relevant points:
 

Registrations granted until 31.12.2020

Despite the United Republic of Tanzania – which comprises Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar – frequently stating that innovation is a key driver of economic development and exceeding expectations for its innovation development this year, trademark owners have expressed uncertainty as to the future of IP protection in the light of the presidential elections that took place on 28 October 2020.

On May 18 and 19, 2020, the 73rd Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) took place, which, considering the circumstances we find ourselves, was held for the first time virtually. This Assembly resulted in the long-awaited Resolution that aims to provide a global response to Covid-19. The Resolution was co-sponsored by more than 130 countries and adopted by consensus.