The University of Cape Town’s Intellectual Property Law & Policy Research Unit assists in developing IP Law and Policy in Southern Africa and aims to contribute to the manner in which this topic is treated in the emerging and developing countries throughout the world. The Unit is in a position to become an influential leader within Southern Africa for research and scholarship in intellectual property law and policy. The Unit believes that it is important that developing countries participate in the evolution of intellectual property policy and law systems to ensure that any changes envisaged or realised in practice take full account of the needs of emerging economies, and therefore can benefit them. The Unit takes the position that South Africa has a part to play in defining the manner in which these new challenges are met.