This is the first book providing a detailed overview of the law and practice in relation to intellectual property rights enforcement in all 54 African countries. It lays out how trade mark, copyright and patent owners can enforce their rights in Africa through the civil and criminal courts, and at the borders through customs.

Concentrating on international intellectual property law, this volume is a collection of works by current authors in the field. Their work is supplemented by numerous essays and notes prepared by the editors. The controlling provisions of the major treaties in the field are included in a comprehensive appendix.

Across the world, developing countries are attempting to balance the international standards of intellectual property concerning pharmaceutical patents against the urgent need for accessible and affordable medicines. In this timely and necessary book, Monirul Azam examines the attempts of several developing countries to walk this fine line. He evaluates the experiences of Brazil, China, India, and South Africa for lessons to guide Bangladesh and developing nations everywhere. Azam's legal expertise, concern for public welfare, and compelling grasp of principal case studies make Intellectual Property and Public Health in the Developing World a definitive work. The developing world is striving to meet the requirements of the World Trade Organization's TRIPS Agreement on intellectual property. This book sets out with lucidity and insight the background of the TRIPS Agreement and its implications for pharmaceutical patents, the consequences for developing countries, and the efforts of certain representative nations to comply with international stipulations while still maintaining local industry and public health. Azam then brings the weight of this research to bear on the particular case of Bangladesh, offering a number of specific policy recommendations for the Bangladeshi government—and for governments the world over. Intellectual Property and Public Health in the Developing World is a must-read for public policy-makers, academics and students, non-governmental organizations, and readers everywhere who are interested in making sure that developing nations meet the health care needs of their people.

"This book discusses the impact of intellectual property and international investment agreements within Africa. It investigates how African nations can enhance their current intellectual property legislation across various regions of the continent, while simultaneously fostering the development of local industries and stimulating innovation and creativity within the region. Despite intellectual property remaining a major issue in global trade governance, African countries have room to maximise the advantages that global intellectual property law can offer. Highlighting discourse on investment, intellectual property, and competition policies in Africa, the book underscores the need for African nations to develop intellectual property frameworks that can facilitate economic transformation. Using data from international intellectual property conventions, WTO dispute settlements and African regional organisation conventions, the book is a comprehensive call to action for African intellectual property lawyers and policymakers. The book will be of interest to students and scholars in the field of intellectual property law and international investment law"--