Professor J. Janewa Osei-Tutu recently participated in “Intellectual Property and Technical Cooperation in Africa: Law, Policy and Path,” at the University of Turku in Finland. Osei-Tutu was one of six scholars from across the globe to speak at the IP conference. The conference discussed the relationship between intellectual property laws, technical cooperation, and economic development in Africa. The event explored how to tailor IP protection to areas like traditional knowledge, the role of international bodies like WIPO, and the challenges African countries face in leveraging IP for growth within the global system.
Osei-Tutu is a professor of law who teaches Trademark Law, Fashion & Cultural Heritage, and Contract Law. She has published widely on intellectual property law and on topics at the intersection of intellectual property, human development, and human rights. Osei-Tutu also writes about traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions with a focus on fashion and cultural heritage. She has authored several chapters for books published by leading academic presses, including Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press, as well as numerous articles in reputable U.S. law journals. Her current research explores trademarks, the right of publicity, and cultural group identities. She also has writing projects on intellectual property in Africa.
Recognized for her expertise on intellectual property and human rights/human development, as well as her expertise on intangible cultural heritage and traditional indigenous knowledge, Osei-Tutu has been a “Prestigious Speaker” for Open AIR in Ottawa, a fellow at the Institute for Intellectual Property and Information Law in Houston, and she is frequently invited to speak at domestic and international conferences and events.
