SA: Mangosuthu University to launch national IP campaign ahead of World IP Day 2025

The launch, which precedes World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April, will take place at MUT and will introduce key partners, outline their roles in the campaign, and highlight the strategic importance of IP in the creative economy.

A central focus of the event will be the music industry, with discussions around its evolving landscape and the critical role of intellectual property rights in fostering sustainable growth and protecting artists.

Following the launch, a series of national roadshows and workshops will be rolled out to engage stakeholders and strengthen South Africa’s IP ecosystem. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about the economic and cultural value of IP, particularly in the music sector, which has shown significant growth in recent years.

Recent data from Spotify underscores the sector’s potential. According to the streaming platform’s 2023 report, South African artists were discovered more than 735 million times by new listeners globally, generating an estimated R256 million in royalties—representing an increase of nearly 240% since 2019 and over 500% since 2017

However, despite these gains, challenges remain. Digital piracy, the unauthorised use of creative works, and the increasing role of artificial intelligence in music creation continue to threaten creators’ rights and revenue. The lack of a robust and coordinated IP framework has also hindered the industry’s ability to fully capitalise on its creative output. This is particularly concerning given that the creative sector contributes nearly 3% to South Africa’s GDP and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Speaking on the upcoming campaign, MUT’s deputy director of IP and commercialisation, Dr Mandla Hlongwane, emphasised the significance of World Intellectual Property Day: “World Intellectual Property Day is a key opportunity to help creatives protect and profit from their work, while promoting a fair and innovative creative economy.”

The initiative is expected to attract contributions from a wide range of key stakeholders, including the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEFDA), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Durban University of Technology, the University of Zululand, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, eThekwini Municipality, and the Durban Film Office (DFO).

World Intellectual Property Day 2025 will place renewed emphasis on building a knowledge-based, innovative economy through the empowerment of creators and innovators across sectors.