This chapter begins with a brief introduction to existing international Intellectual Property (IP) obligations. It then discusses the African Unions (AU's) IP policies as derived from AU policy statements and language from the statute of the Pan-African Intellectual Property Organization (PAIPO). One of the initiatives of the AU was to adopt an instrument establishing the PAIPO to address IP throughout the African continent. Among other things, the PAIPO shall “harmonize intellectual property standards that reflect the needs of the AU,” its member states, and regional organizations. The preamble to the PAIPO statute makes it clear that “development” is one of the priorities of the organization, stating that AU member states are “determined to promote a development-oriented intellectual property system in order to achieve the objectives of the African Union. The PAIPO preamble also speaks to the need to strengthen national capacity and affirms the recommendations of the WIPO development Agenda.