Building Respect for Intellectual Property in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study looked at building respect for Intellectual Property in Zimbabwe with a focus on the enforcement of Intellectual Property rights, in the face of the rapidly growing problem of counterfeiting and piracy. Although the magnitude of the problem is not known for certain, it is generally accepted that the problem of counterfeiting and piracy is growing fast world over. The ramifications of counterfeiting and piracy include serious threats to safety and health, stifling creativity and a deterioration of local manufacturing industries among others. Zimbabwe has, over the years, witnessed a rise in the availability of counterfeit products and copyright infringing materials in its channels of commerce. Despite sporadic police raids, pirated music and movie products are conveniently available on the streets and the import of cheap counterfeit goods is seriously impeding the growth of the local manufacturing industry. This study sought to analyse the enforcement mechanism in place with a view to establishing the challenges being faced and make recommendations for its improvement. A survey characterised by 40 questionnaires and 10 interviews was conducted. The study showed that while the legislation in place is adequate there is little appreciation of Intellectual Property and poor coordination amongst the relevant stakeholders. The study recommends constant training and a more coordinated approach. It is further recommended that, with the recently launched Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (ZimAsset) in mind, building respect for Intellectual Property in Zimbabwe must involve a deliberate alignment of an Intellectual Property strategy to national development goals. Further research is recommended on how Government policies can contribute to building respect for Intellectual Property in Zimbabwe beyond Intellectual Property rights enforcement.