A regional symposium on copyright and related rights management has called for stronger accountability in royalty administration, improved copyright enforcement and closer cooperation among African countries to ensure creators benefit more from the commercial use of their work.
The three-day symposium, held from 19 to 21 October 2026 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, was organised by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the theme, “Empowering Creativity: Harnessing IP for Sustainable Development in Africa.”
The meeting brought together policymakers, copyright administrators, creators, collective management organisations, enforcement agencies and industry representatives to examine persistent challenges affecting the creative sector and identify practical measures to improve copyright administration.
A key issue was the governance of collective management organisations, which play a central role in collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of creators. Participants called for greater transparency, accountability and efficiency in these organisations to improve royalty collection and ensure rights holders receive payments due to them.
Discussions also focused on strengthening licensing systems, improving data management and enhancing oversight of the administration of copyright and related rights.
The rapid development of artificial intelligence, digital content distribution and new commercial models featured prominently in discussions on the need to modernise copyright frameworks. Participants also highlighted digital piracy as a continuing challenge, pointing to the importance of coordinated enforcement and greater public awareness of copyright obligations among businesses and users of creative works.
Regional cooperation emerged as another priority, particularly in addressing cross-border licensing and the lawful use of creative works across different markets. Stronger collaboration among national intellectual property offices and other stakeholders was identified as important to helping creators benefit from the commercial exploitation of their work beyond their home countries.
The symposium also examined ways to improve access to copyright information and practical guidance for small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and emerging creators. Better understanding of intellectual property rights, participants noted, can help businesses and individuals protect their creative assets and explore opportunities to commercialise them.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of the 2026 Recommendations and the ARIPO@50 Legacy Declaration, which are intended to inform continued discussions on copyright administration, intellectual property protection and regional cooperation.
URSB has identified copyright awareness, effective intellectual property administration and the recognition of creative works as economic assets as priorities for the development of Uganda’s creative sector.
Implementing the symposium’s recommendations will require coordinated efforts from governments, intellectual property offices, collective management organisations, creators, businesses and enforcement agencies. The extent to which these proposals translate into practical reforms will be important in determining their impact on royalty payments, rights enforcement and commercial opportunities for African creators.
The discussions come amid wider changes in how creative works are produced, distributed and monetised, increasing the pressure on copyright systems to adapt to digital markets while ensuring that creators’ rights are protected.