East Africa
The ability for governments from East Africa to cope with the proliferation of illicit products has become increasingly important to BASCAP members. BASCAP attends and hosts regional events and produces reports on the value of intellectual property.
In the region, Kenya is regarded as an ideal model for legislation, interagency and international cooperation that could better serve the East Africa region and even Africa as a whole.
IP Goals
BASCAP has been active in the East African region since 2010, participating in several intergovernmental conferences led by the United States and continues to partner with local agencies to:
- Promote the importance of IP for the domestic economy, business and society.
- Describe the negative effects of counterfeiting and piracy on these important societal goals (particularly with respect to specific local companies).
- Train local businesses and other organizations on how to manage their own and others' IP more effectively, including how to avoid the risks of counterfeiting and piracy.
- Provide pro-IP messaging 'air cover' that will be helpful as various IP lobbying, legislative, regulatory and other initiatives arise.
- Provide positive recommendations for helpful government iniatives protecting intellectual property.
- Secure positive domestic and international PR for events and key messages.
Government leaders and influencers with better information on the value of IP and a better understanding of how counterfeiting and piracy undermine IP, innovation, economic growth and employment are better able to prioritize public policy measures to protect IP and to work against the harms of counterfeiting and piracy.
Events
Documents