On 5 November, main African IP actors met EU counterparts to discuss and assess current situation of Intellectual Property in Africa, future prospects and cooperation opportunities under the AfrIPI project and collaboration with European. Among others, IP regional organisations ARIPO and OAPI,  as well as European national IP offices  contributed to a meaningful dialogue, which also engaged the African Union Commission and the European Union. 

On 12 October 2020, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago formally acceded to the Madrid Protocol. This makes Trinidad and Tobago the 107th member of the Madrid System, which now covers 123 countries. 

After Trinidad and Tobago deposited its instrument of accession, it will enter into force on January 12, 2021.

Currently, nine ASEAN countries have already become members of the Madrid Protocol. Malaysia joined the Madrid Protocol in December 2019 being is the newest member of the Madrid Protocol amongst ASEAN. Myanmar is the only ASEAN Member State that has not yet become member of the Madrid Protocol. 

Within the framework of Annual Work Plan 3-2020, ARISE+ IPR provided legal and technical support for the elaboration of an ‘Evaluation study on the accession and recommendations on the implementation of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications.’ The evaluation study aimed to assist ASEAN Member States (AMSs) interested in acceding to the Geneva Act in the pre-accession preparation and post-accession implementation.

During the first and second year of the project implementation, ARISE+ IPR has organised many activities to promote Geographical Indications (GI) protection and empower GI producers and associations in the ASEAN region.

The AfrIPI project supports the Cabrito de Tete geographical indication (Mozambique). It does so by providing technical and logistical assistance in the commercial testing. Two trainings for producers associations’ members will be organized in Tete, Mozambique on 26-30/10 and 02-06/11 respectively. The trainings will be followed by the official Commercial Test Launch Event of the Cabrito de Tete geographical indication on the 23rd November 2020 in Maputo, Mozambique.

Do you know that the Madrid System allows for international registration of trade marks? Antigua and Barbuda joined 20 year ago. To mark this anniversary, CarIPI has just released a new practical guide for business.

If you are considering expanding your business internationally, discover how to take maximum benefit of the Madrid international registration system to file trademarks in 121 countries worldwide directly from Antigua and Barbuda.