Written by Crystal van Vyk | From The Africa Report

Protecting copyright and intellectual property rights has the potential to contribute 11 percent to South Africa’s gross domestic product, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), has said.

Briefing the trade parliamentary committee, DTI’s Deputy Director-General for corporate & consumer regulation, Zodwa Ntuli said the potential can be achieved if the laws are enforced correctly.

Ntuli said the creative industries contribute significantly to economic and social development of the country and currently contribute 4,11 percent of GDP, while they also have the potential to create a substantial number of jobs. South Africa is ranked 17 in world for Intellectual Property (IP) enforcement, but it is a “complex area of work” said Ntuli.

“The potential growth of 11 percent GDP is possible if it taken more seriously with incentives and if strategies are implemented,” she said.

Parliamentarians also heard that a large amount of South African intellectual property rights are owned by foreigners and not by locals.

“We’re only registering IPs from overseas and the minister raised concerns about this and wants to see that more locals register IPs,” she said.

Read more at The Africa Report