David Jeng

Africa has no shortage of creativity. The harder question is making sure creators get paid for it.
That question ran through all three of my sessions in Kampala at the ARIPO 7th Symposium on Copyright and Related Rights Management.
I joined a panel on artificial intelligence, copyright and the creative sector, where we discussed consent, attribution, fair remuneration and authorised use of works for AI training. I also spoke at a copyright clinic for SMEs and start-ups, covering copyright assets, establishing ownership, licensing and rights. Finally, I moderated a panel on enforcement, digital piracy and compliance, with discussions on cross-border IP crime, simpler licensing and coordination.
Some of the key outcomes from the symposium:
• Stronger governance, transparency and accountability in CMOs
• Better royalty collection, licensing systems and data management
• Modernising copyright frameworks for AI and digital distribution
• Coordinated enforcement, public awareness and regional cooperation
Copyright is a business asset, not just a legal formality. Turning the recommendations into action will take all of us.
Thank you to ARIPO and WIPO for organising, URSB for hosting, and every moderator, speaker and panellist.
#ARIPOat50 #Copyright #CreativeEconomy #IntellectualProperty #WIPO ARIPO URSB Kampala Uganda AfricanCreatives