Harmonizing IPRs on Software Piracy: Empirics of Trajectories in Africa

Arbeitspapier

In the current efforts of harmonizing the standards and enforcement of IPRs protection worldwide, this paper explores software piracy trajectories and dynamics in Africa. Using a battery of estimation techniques that ignore as well as integrate short-run disturbances in time-dynamic fashion, we answer the big questions policy makers are most likely to ask before harmonizing IPRs regimes in the battle against software piracy. Three main findings are established. (1) African countries with low software piracy rates are catching-up their counterparts with higher rates; implying despite existing divergent IPRs systems, convergence in piracy rate could be a genuine standard-setting platform. (2) Legal origins do not play a very significant role in the convergence process. (3) A genuine timeframe for standardizing IPRs laws in the fight against piracy is most likely between a horizon of 4 to 8 years. In other words, full (100%) convergence within the specified horizon will mean the enforcements of IPRs regimes without distinction of nationality and locality. Policy implications and caveats are discussed.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: AGDI Working Paper ; No. WP/12/025

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; International Policy Coordination and Transmission ; Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law ; Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital ; Technological Change: Government Policy ; Comparative Studies of Countries
• Subject: Software piracy ; Intellectual property rights ; Panel data ; Convergence

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Asongu, Simplice A.
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): African Governance and Development Institute (AGDI)
• (where): Yaoundé
• (when): 2012

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/123559
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET