By Fatou Sillah
The National Assembly on Monday held the second reading of the Intellectual Property Bill 2025, marking the start of the 2026 legislative year. The proposed legislation seeks to reform and consolidate The Gambia’s fragmented intellectual property (IP) administration system.
Presenting the bill, Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dawda A. Jallow, said the proposed law aims to address longstanding administrative divisions in the management of intellectual property rights in the country.
He explained that the current system splits responsibility between two institutions. Industrial property rights are administered by the Ministry of Justice, while copyright and related rights fall under the National Centre for Arts and Culture within the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
According to the minister, this separation of mandates has hindered the effective development and administration of intellectual property rights in The Gambia.
“The enactment of the Intellectual Property Bill 2025 will therefore streamline the administration of intellectual property rights and make it a one-stop shop in line with the principle of ease of doing business and international best practices,” he stated.
The minister further noted that the new legislation would create room for the incorporation of emerging intellectual property regimes beneficial to both national and international rights holders.
He also underscored The Gambia’s international obligations as a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), and a signatory to the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). These commitments, he said, require the country to ensure effective administration and protection of intellectual property rights within its jurisdiction.
“As part of defining the practical application of these conventions and agreements, this bill includes comprehensive provisions to address all issues relating to intellectual property rights,” he added.
Following its second reading, members of the National Assembly referred the bill to the Assembly Business Committee for further consideration without debate.
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