URSB – Led Copyright Symposium Concludes with Call for Stronger Rights Management and Creative Economy

The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Uganda’s national intellectual property body, has concluded the Symposium on Copyright and Related Rights Management with a focus on practical measures to strengthen copyright protection, improve royalty administration and expand commercial opportunities for African creators.

Held from 19 to 21 October 2026 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, the symposium was organised by URSB alongside the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), under the theme “Empowering Creativity: Harnessing IP for Sustainable Development in Africa.”

The three-day engagement brought together policymakers, copyright administrators, creators, collective management organisations, enforcement agencies and industry representatives to develop approaches to addressing persistent challenges in the creative sector.

Key outcomes from the discussions included the need to strengthen governance, transparency and accountability in collective management organisations to improve royalty collection and distribution. Participants also examined ways to enhance licensing systems, improve data management and strengthen accountability in the administration of creators’ rights.

The symposium highlighted the importance of modernising copyright frameworks to respond to artificial intelligence, digital content distribution and emerging business models. Discussions emphasised the need to address digital piracy, improve enforcement coordination and increase public awareness of copyright obligations among businesses and users of creative works.

Participants further underscored regional cooperation as essential to improving cross-border licensing, facilitating lawful use of creative works across markets and ensuring that creators benefit from the exploitation of their intellectual property beyond national borders.

The discussions also highlighted opportunities to support small and medium enterprises, start-ups and emerging creators through improved access to copyright information and practical guidance on protecting and commercialising intellectual assets.

The symposium concluded with the presentation of the 2026 Recommendations and the ARIPO@50 Legacy Declaration, providing a basis for continued engagement on strengthening copyright administration and regional cooperation.

URSB reaffirmed its commitment to advancing copyright awareness, supporting effective intellectual property administration and promoting an environment in which creative works are recognised as valuable economic assets.

The outcomes reinforce the importance of coordinated action by governments, intellectual property offices, collective management organisations, creators, businesses and enforcement agencies to translate copyright protection into tangible economic benefits.

By advancing these priorities, URSB and its partners seek to support a more transparent, commercially viable and sustainable creative economy in Uganda and across Africa.