MUT Spearheads World Intellectual Property Day 2025 to Foster Growth in South Africa’s Creative Industry

In the lead-up to World Intellectual Property Day 2025, Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), in collaboration with the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), will host a media launch to unveil this year’s national IP awareness campaign. The event will also introduce key partners and outline their roles.

The World Intellectual Property Day media launch will provide a platform to discuss the future of the music industry and the importance of intellectual property in driving growth.

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Following the launch, a series of roadshows and workshops will be held to engage stakeholders in strengthening South Africa’s intellectual property (IP) ecosystem. These events aim to promote a better understanding of the cultural and economic value of IP, especially within the music sector, which continues to grow rapidly.

This year’s World Intellectual Property Day is set against the backdrop of an eye-opening 2023 Spotify report, which revealed that South African artists were discovered over 735 million times by new listeners, generating approximately R256 million in royalties—an increase of nearly 240% since 2019 and over 500% since 2017. These figures reflect the growing global impact of South African music and the urgent need to protect its creators.

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Despite these achievements, the industry still faces major challenges. Digital piracy, unauthorised use of creative works, and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in music creation continue to threaten artists’ rights and earnings. The absence of a strong, unified IP framework limits the sector’s ability to fully monetise its output—concerning for a creative industry that contributes nearly 3% to South Africa’s GDP and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Speaking on the significance of this year’s programme and its broader objectives, Dr Mandla Hlongwane, MUT’s Deputy Director of IP and Commercialisation, said:

“World Intellectual Property Day is a key opportunity to help creatives protect and profit from their work, while promoting a fair and innovative creative economy.”

Key stakeholders expected to participate and contribute include the South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO), the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEFDA), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Durban University of Technology, the University of Zululand, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, eThekwini Municipality, and the Durban Film Office (DFO).

MUT invites members of the media, artists, policymakers, and industry professionals to attend the launch.