The world is longing for sustainable development, a development that meets the needs of the present without frustrating future generations in meeting their own needs. This led the United Nations Organisation to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. There is no oubt that intellectual property and its protection play a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development, because innovation is one of the primary means of achieving sustainable development, and intellectual property law rewards innovation, thereby fostering development. Utilising doctrinal and analytical research methodologies, this paper seeks to appraise the importance of intellectual property law in achieving sustainable development. The article examines the concept of sustainable development, intellectual property law, and the role of the World Intellectual Property Organisation in the protection of intellectual property and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. The article argues that intellectual property is relevant to the attainment of sustainable development goals if well managed. Lastly, the article proffers recommendations on how to best integrate intellectual property law with sustainable development. Keywords: Intellectual Property Rights, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Innovation and Development, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Intellectual Property Law.

This research gives a detailed discussion on the role of the Zambian courts in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The paper comments on the recent ruling of the Zambian High Court in Vitima Lungu and Others v Itwi Likando Liwena 2026/HPC/0063 in which the court stayed proceedings (litigation) and referred the matter to ADR. This paper has established that the decision is sound as it reinforces the constitutional mandate of the courts in the role of ADR and promotes prompt settlement of matters in the conveyancing process. The demerit of the decision is that it leaves provision for parties to re-apply to court to re-litigate the matter if ADR fails, a route that may lead to delayed disposal of cases. The paper analyses the Court’s reasoning in light of Article 118(2)(d) of the Constitution of Zambia, the Arbitration Act No. 19 of 2000, and the High Court Rules, which collectively mandate thepromotion of alternative dispute resolution. It examines the enforceability of arbitration clauses and the court’s prima facie duty to stay proceedings where a valid arbitration agreement exists, unless shown to be null, void, inoperative, or incapable of performance. The study situates the decision within Zambia’s broader constitutional and statutory framework that encourages negotiation, mediation, and arbitration as mechanisms for enhancing access to justice and reducing court congestion. Overall, the judgment affirms judicial support for ADR while revealing procedural concerns where unsuccessful ADR may prolong dispute resolution. Keywords: Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, Mediation, Negotiation

The legal system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is pluralistic, including civil law courts at both the federal and emirate levels, as well as free zone courts that enforce civil law. The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) are two of the most well-known of them. They both operate under common law, which is different from the civil law traditions of other legal systems in the country. This essay critically examines the UAE’s balance between the autonomy of free zones and the authority of the federal judiciary, analysing the legal frameworks, jurisdictional limitations, collaborative processes, and the problems and advantages of this distinctive system. The report ends with suggestions for how to keep the courts consistent even as the economy and the law change. Keywords: Judicial Pluralism; UAE Free Zones; DIFC Courts; ADGM Courts; Legal Autonomy.

“Crime develops society and every society needs some element of crime in order to grow”. This statement is hinged on the subject of Sociology of law. Crime as a factor of society’s growth has different branches which stems from it and one of which is the part of innovation. From the early times, crimes have been ‘committed’ and on the other hand ‘stopped’ using different innovations,technologies, techniques. Some secrets have kept different kingdoms, nations and businesses strong and competitive over the years and these have in turn helped them survive the harsh attack of other kingdoms, nations, economic factors and pressures. This article seeks to explore the topic sentence from a perspective of intellectual property with recourse to the fact that a lot of crimesand crime fighting have stemmed from the element of Intellectual Property. The exploration takes into cognizance different areas and examples from both local and international plains. Keywords: Code, Crime, Creativity, Innovation, Evolution, Intellectual Property

From the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the already addictive social media applications to asking AI for a summary of a chapter of a test coming up the next morning, to self-driving cars, and even to asking an AI like Siri what to eat, it is evident that this is the age of artificial intelligence. Laws ought not to be static but instead reflect their time. In the age of artificial intelligence, Nigeria must have laws that adapt and reflect this reality. Artificial intelligence is fast evolving, and copyright law in Nigeria can become an effective tool for harnessing the benefits of AI while also limiting the challenges it brings. Since AI is still relatively new, new discoveries and challenges are emerging that require solutions and regulations. This article will examine how Nigerian copyright law can be navigated to address the challenges posed by AI use, providing solutions to the inevitabilityof AI in the age of artificial intelligence. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Copyright, and Ethical Artificial Intelligence

Block Chain technology has increasingly been recognized as a transformative tool for trade finance, offering enhanced transparency, security, and efficiency. In the context of intra-African commerce, traditional transactions often face delays, complex documentation, and heightened risks of errors or fraud. This case comment examines the innovative use of block chain by the Moroccan multinational, OCP Group, in collaboration with the Trade and Development Bank (TDB), to execute a $400 million fertilizer transaction between Morocco and Ethiopia. The block chain-enabled platform allowed for faster processing, real-timetracking, and improved trust among stakeholders, demonstrating the potential of distributed ledger technologies to streamline cross-border trade. While this project did not explicitly employ smart contracts, the case provides a foundation to discuss their potential role in automating contractual obligations, ensuring conditional payments, and further enhancing transaction security and efficiency. By analysing this example, the article highlights both the practical benefits of block chain adoption in African trade and the prospective integration of smart contracts to support more sophisticated and self-executing commercial agreements in the future. Keywords: Block Chain – Intra-African Trade – OCP Group – Trade Finance – Smart Contracts