Several general principles are important for effective management of intellectual property (“IP”) rights in Senegal.  First, it is important to have an overall strategy to protect your IP.  Second, IP may be protected differently in Senegal than in the United States.  Third, rights must be registered and enforced in Senegal, under local laws.  For example, your U.S. trademark and patent registrations will not protect you in Senegal.  There is no such thing as an “international copyright” that will automatically protect an author’s writings throughout the entire world. Protection against unauthorized use in a country depends, basically, on the national laws of that country.  However, most countries do offer copyright protection to foreign works in accordance with international agreements.  

In any foreign market companies should consider several general principles for effective management of their intellectual property. For background on these principles please link to the following article on Protecting Intellectual Property and Stopfakes.gov, or contact ITA’s Office of Intellectual Property Rights Director, Stevan Mitchell at Stevan.Mitchell@trade.gov.

IP Attaché Contact 

Aysa Miller, Economic Section Chief

U.S. Embassy Dakar

Route des Almadies

Telephone +221-33-879-4794

E-mail:  MillerAM@State.gov

For additional information on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, visit the U.S.  Investment Climate Statement website.