Suchergebnisse

Examining the harmonisation of Intellectual Property policy, law and administration in Africa, this book evaluates the effectiveness of efforts to establish continental Intellectual Property institutions and frameworks. It also considers sub-regional initiatives led by the regional economic communities and the regional Intellectual Property organisations, focusing on relevant protocols and agreements that address Intellectual Property as well as the implementing institutions. The book assesses the progress of such initiatives with particular reference to the current socio-economic status of African states. It argues that that harmonisation initiatives need to be crafted in a way that is supportive of the developmental goals of African states and advocates for due consideration of individual states' unique conditions and aspirations. This book will be of great relevance to scholars and policy makers with an interest in Intellectual Property law and its harmonisation in Africa.

The position that states take in the international sphere on health and intellectual property (IP) policy matters is influenced by their national experiences and positions. Similarly, the national arena is influenced by global health diplomacy. This paper seeks to examine how this iterative relationship has played out in South Africa in relation to patents, pharmaceuticals and access to medicines. It has been shown how the main African health diplomacy perspectives may be classified around the narratives of 'unity and ubuntu', 'liberation ethic and demands of nationhood' and 'development aid or development policy'. This paper focuses on how these narratives have found expression in national discourse. In particular, it considers a recent interchange between the Minister of Health and a pharmaceutical company association in relation to their views on the draft National Intellectual Property (IP) Policy's chapter on IP and public health, which commonly became known as "PharmaGate". The paper utilises discourse analysis methodology to consider this public discourse which was disseminated via radio stations and television, as well as print and digital media.