By 
By Ross Moyo
African music has global demand. But the money is not reaching artists.
That was the central finding from the US government’s “IP for Growth” workshops held in Lagos and Johannesburg this month, according to Katherine Hiner of the USPTO.
Journalist Ross Moyo, of TechnoMag Zimbabwe posed critical questions during a digitalbriefing Hiner responded to: “Zimbabwe’s music industry on platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Spotify is growing fast, but piracy remains huge. What specific IP tools can the USPTO offer African artists to monetize and protect music internationally?”
Hiner responded: “We’re facilitators. We bring together government officials, industry and local creators, across borders with our law enforcement agencies, the IPR Center, to help have a fulsome conversation and reinforce the importance to governments about the need to invest in those systems to address piracy.”
The 3 Biggest Gaps Identified:
1. Lack of transparency in CMOs – Collective Management Organisations
2. Low public awareness of IP rights among artists and consumers
3. Under-resourced enforcement to tackle piracy
The Music Economy Development Initiative told the workshops that $286 million in recorded revenue goes uncollected each year in Kenya and Nigeria alone.
Hiner said the US model works because it invested in all 3 areas. She also pointed to cross-border enforcement: US Homeland Security Investigations recently took down 1,000 infringing pirate sites during a World Cup operation.
“Piracy is not a victimless crime. It’s not just wrong, it’s dangerous,” Hiner said, linking pirate revenue to organized crime.
On legal reform, Hiner urged African countries to ratify the WIPO Copyright Treaty and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty – the “WIPO Internet Treaties”. She said they provide Technical Protection Measures and Rights Management Information* needed for streaming to work.
ZIPO Update: Asked about Zimbabwe, Hiner said “we don’t have any ongoing partnerships right now with ZIPO” but highlighted a new Accelerated Patent Grant Agreement signed with Ghana in July 2025 — the first in Africa — to streamline patent reviews.
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