Electronics race in Africa

Electronics race in Africa

By Darren Olivier   Wednesday, May 11, 2011   No comments:

News 24 reports that Samsung is targeting Africa as a growth market for the South Korean company and is betting that the consumer market for electronics will drive expansion:

""Through our Samsung Blue Project, we intend to become a $10bn region by 2015, growing the market to the size of China's. To achieve this, we will start by more than doubling our 2010 growth to 63% in 2011," said Kwang Kee Park, president of Samsung Electronics Africa.



"Samsung aims to develop the local industry further by establishing further knock-down plants - where currently there are such plants in Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Senegal," the company said in a statement.



Samsung is currently embroiled in legal spat with Apple Inc over the style and interface of some of its devices. Apple claims that Samsung violated its intellectual property, but the South Korean giant has hit back saying that it developed products independently."

A google search for "Samsung Electronics Africa" is awash with news of the African foray. It's no surprise really. Following the mobile telecoms dash, we have seen much African expansion from the banks in particular. IPAD2s are selling like hot cakes, as are Kindles. From an IP perspective we have some catching up to do. Copyright legislation, in particular, in most African countries is several generations off the pace. But the companies are prepared to take that risk (and use other methods eg Apple's superior consumer experience) to secure this potential new consumer base.

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Zambia - counterfeit crackdown

Zambia - counterfeit crackdown

By Darren Olivier   Tuesday, August 31, 2010   No comments:

Zambia has recently been the focus of anti-counterfeit measures undertaken by Samsung. This article explains how Samsung is tackling the problem using the Zambia Police Intellectual Property Unit following a raid at the Mama Afrika store in Kitwe. An editorial piece contained in the Times of Zambia appeals to the consumer to assist:

"The trade may look lucrative but it is only assisting in stifling innovation as local fledgling inventors cannot compete on an even playing field with goods that are brought in the country by traders who often evade tax. Ultimately, poverty and unemployment will increase as only a few hawkers and traders benefit from the trade. There is a more sinister side to this illicit business because by buying the product, you could be financing organised crime such as human trafficking or even terrorism."

The Intellectual Property Unit has been busy in recent times. In 2009 they were active against software pirates, dodgy music equipment and fake fruit drinks. PACRO (The Patents and Companies Registration Office) contains a well researched article here. Afro-IP reported on anti-counterfeiting initiatives in the country here, here and here.

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