Building technology means building IP. We advise on software copyright, algorithm protection, data ownership and licensing, trade secret strategy, and IP due diligence for M&A across African and global jurisdictions.
Traditional IP frameworks were not designed for the assets that matter most to technology companies: software architecture, training datasets, model weights, proprietary algorithms, and the know-how embedded in how a system works. We advise on how to structure protection for these assets using the combination of legal tools available across African jurisdictions.
For pan-African technology companies, this means navigating inconsistent copyright regimes, fragmented trade secret law, and patent systems with variable effectiveness for software -- while building commercial and contractual structures that protect competitive advantage.
Copyright subsistence, ownership, and infringement. Algorithm protection. Source code licensing strategy.
Data ownership structures, database rights, and licensing frameworks for data-driven businesses.
Confidentiality protocols, employee agreements, and structural protection for proprietary methods and know-how.
IP asset mapping, ownership chain verification, encumbrance analysis, and risk assessment for technology transactions.
Many technology companies using open source software in commercial products have unanalysed licence obligations that create significant risk, particularly around copyleft provisions that can affect proprietary code. We conduct open source licence audits and advise on remediation strategies that do not require product redesign.
Investors and acquirers in African technology companies increasingly require IP due diligence. We prepare technology companies for these processes -- and conduct them for investors.
Discuss Your Needs →A structured IP strategy is a competitive asset. We help technology companies across Africa build and protect it.