A year-long U.S. government initiative is seeking to help African creators—especially musicians—turn artistic work into lasting economic opportunity by improving intellectual property (IP) protection.
During an online briefing, Katherine Hiner, the U.S. Intellectual Property Attaché for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the effort would move the “conversation from the multilateral space to the creators and policymakers doing the hard work on the ground”.
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Hiner pointed to 2024 data showing that IP-intensive industries generated $11.4 trillion for the U.S. economy, representing 44% of private-sector GDP and supporting 65.8 million jobs. “Music isn’t just a mood or a vibe. It is a business,” she said.
