ACA2K reveils how copyright influences access to knowledge in Africa

An interesting view on copyright on the African continent is presented in the book “Access to Knowledge in Africa: The Role of Copyright.” The international interdisciplinary research project African Copyright and Access to Knowledge (ACA2K) studied copyright legislation in eight African countries and linked the state of copyright protection in these countries with the degree of access to learning materials.

ACA2K set up a network of African researchers to study the impact of copyright on access to educational materials in their countries. The result is a comparative study of eight African countries, namely, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. These countries are broadly representative of Africa’s linguistic, religious, political, economic and historic diversity, as well as its various legal traditions.

Interestingly, the research revealed that all eight countries involved have copyright laws that meet minimum international standards set in international treaties and agreements. However, the study also reveals a “disconnect” between the legal world and real life. Laws and policies governing copyright in most African countries are typically not grounded in the realities of African societies and therefore they need reform.

The book gives the reader a basic understanding of current legal and practical copyright issues in Africa. It includes a comparative analysis of findings across the countries studied, particularly focusing on copyright issues associated with educational works. The availability of affordable learning materials is problematic and African schools seem to depend heavily on their photocopiers. ACA2K hopes the study will contribute to international discussions relating to exceptions and limitations under international copyright law.

"Access to Knowledge in Africa: the role of copyright” is licensed under a Creative Commons license and can be downloaded here free-of-charge.

Sources: WIPO Magazine, ACA2K