As the largest repository of intellectual property (IP) on the planet, the United States has been buying and importing all of the IP it can get its hands on. It`s also put uncomfortable legislation in place to keep IP in-country. In turn, the US is making it more difficult for emerging markets to compete.

In a less open source-focused presentation than usual at GovTech, held in Cape Town last month, internet billionaire and Linux aficionado Mark Shuttleworth provided some insight into what countries like South Africa can do about the IP issue. As a man who sold his own IP for a mint, he is certainly able to provide sage advice.

While precious little can be done to supersede the US in terms of its IP repository, Shuttleworth says there are things South Africans can do to ensure we create additional IP in the country – and therein lose less of it to international shores.