Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) will host the 2025 edition of the World Intellectual Property Day celebration. The event has three segments. On 16 April, the University will host the first segment, the Media Launch, at its main campus in Umlazi Township, Durban. On 24 April, MUT will host the second segment of the event, the Roadshow, at Durban’s Botanic Gardens. MUT will host the World Intellectual Property Day celebration at its main campus. World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) designated 26 April to celebrate Intellectual Property (IP). However, the 2025 edition of the event will be held a day before, as the designated day is a Saturday.
These events are organised by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), in collaboration with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) through the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO); Department of Trade and Industry and Competition; the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA); the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA); Durban University of Technology; University of Zululand; University of KwaZulu-Natal; MUT and the Durban Film Office (DFO).
This year’s theme for World Intellectual Day is “Intellectual Property and Music—Feel the Beat.” The aim is to highlight the critical role that Intellectual Property (IP) plays in South Africa’s dynamic music industry, which has experienced remarkable growth in recent years.
According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) Global Music Report 2023, South Africa’s music industry experienced a 31.4% growth in 2022. This positive trend continued into 2023, with the IFPI Global Music Report 2024 indicating a further 19.9% increase in revenue, underscoring the sector’s robust expansion.
The proliferation of digital streaming platforms has significantly fuelled this growth, with streaming revenues accounting for 67.0% of global recorded music revenues in 2022. While specific data for South Africa’s creative sector is limited, the international trend highlights the increasing dominance of streaming in the music industry.
However, despite these impressive achievements, the industry continues to grapple with substantial challenges, particularly regarding protecting and enforcing intellectual property (IP) rights. Digital piracy, the unauthorised use of creative works, and the complexities introduced by evolving technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI) in music creation—pose significant threats to artists’ rights and income.
These challenges erode the creative sector’s capacity to reward innovation fairly and undermine its broader economic contribution. South Africa’s cultural and creative industries contribute nearly 3% to the national GDP and support hundreds of thousands of livelihoods.
The fragmented IP rights framework undermines valuation, monetisation, and protection against piracy, impeding the industry’s full potential. MUT’s Deputy Director of IP and Commercialisation, Dr Mandla Hlongwane, emphasises the significance of this initiative: “The South African music industry is a cornerstone of our cultural identity and economic development. By strengthening intellectual property rights, we ensure our artists receive fair recognition and compensation, fostering an environment where creativity can thrive.”
Highlighting the importance of the event and IP in general, Dr Hlongwane said the event organisers included the high school learners so they would learn about IP and its role in the economy and their future. “Any young person is the future. However, as event organisers, we want to ensure that a young person has a bright future guided by the right knowledge. That is why we are giving them the right information,” said Dr Hlongwane.