Stockholm Conference on Cross-Border Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Africa

From 8 to 10 June 2026, the Faculty of Law at Stockholm University will host a conference entitled Cross-border Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Africa.

The conference brings together leading scholars and practitioners to explore the challenges and opportunities of cross-border enforcement of intellectual property rights (IP) in Africa, focusing on regional frameworks, private international law, and practical enforcement challenges, including developments in digital environments.

The first day will focus on institutional foundations and regional frameworks. Following opening remarks by Lydia Lundstedt (Stockholm University), Richard Frimpong Oppong (Osgoode Hall Law School) will deliver the keynote address on the institutional foundations of cross-border IP enforcement in Africa and the role of private international law. Other speakers include Jimcall Pfumorodze (University of Botswana), Moses Nkomo (University of Zimbabwe), Christina Wainikka (Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and Stockholm University), Frantzeska Papadopoulou (Stockholm University), Daniel Opoku Acquah (University of Turku), and Marisella Ouma (Kenya Intellectual Property Expert). The day will conclude with a round table discussion on regional integration, IP harmonisation, and African priorities.

The conference includes a visit to the Patent and Market Court of Appeal in Stockholm.

The second day will address enforcement mechanisms and legal frameworks. Participants will begin with a visit to the Patent and Market Court of Appeal before returning to the conference venue for sessions on African private international law and international cooperation. Speakers include Michael Hellner (Stockholm University), Abubakri Yekini (University of Manchester), B Mmipi (University of Botswana), Paul Torremans (University of Nottingham), Emilia Onyema (SOAS Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre), Tana Pistorius (University of Auckland) and Ulf Maunsbach (Lund University). The day will conclude with a round table discussion on strengthening African cross-border IP enforcement mechanisms.

The final day will focus on future directions and practical solutions, including proposals for a common African intellectual property court and specialised dispute resolution mechanisms. Speakers include Stefan Johansson (Presiding Judge of the Nordic-Baltic Regional Division of the UPC), Marianne Levin (Stockholm University), Justin Monsenepwo (Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg), and Gosego Rockfall Lekgowe (University of Botswana). The programme also includes working group discussions on a common IP court for Africa, African private international law principles for intellectual property and alternative dispute resolution.

The conference will take place at Aula Magna, Stockholm University, Universitetsvägen 10, Stockholm. Participation includes conference lunches, coffee breaks, and conference dinners.

The full programme is available here.

Participation is free of charge, but seats are limited. To register for the conference, contact Lydia Lundstedt at lydia.lundstedt@juridicum.su.se.