OAPI has been examining trade mark and industrial design applications on substance since January 2022. Before being granted, applications for registration in the OAPI region must now be published.
This activity is a continuation of Activity 7 of the AWP 2.
The activity aims to bring together key North African IP rights policymakers, enforcement authorities, IP offices and stakeholders to develop more effective techniques and strategies for detecting, monitoring and investigating IP rights infringements.
Under its AWP 2, AfrIPI began collaborating with the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to provide strategic accompaniment to the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). This collaboration is part of the drive to promote IP as a tool for regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In the AWP 3, AfrIPI and ECCAS seek to move forward together in a process that will lead to the proposal and adoption of an IP policy/strategy for ECCAS that will be complementary/compatible with international and regional legal instruments.
On 22 March 2023, CarIPI collaborated with the Grenada IP office (CAIPO) to host an online session on geographical indications with interested producer organisations in the country. The producers attending this session included Grenada Cooperative Nutmeg Association, Grenada Cocoa Association, Soursop Marketing and National Importing Board, Grenada Beekeepers Association, Grenada Rum Producers Association, River Antoine Estate producer of River Antoine Rum, and Cane Co producers of Renegade Rum, among others.
The fifth edition of the Global Industrie exhibition took place from 7 to 10 March in Lyon, France. This year, it welcomed more than 45 000 visitors from all across the globe and from various industries, providing great opportunities for networking and new partnerships.
The Africa IP SME Helpdesk was also present at this year’s exhibition, aiming to gather information and contacts from stakeholders to assess the intellectual property areas of interest in Africa. Furthermore, it explored potential synergies with representatives from the private and public sectors.
An effective and strategic use of intellectual property requires the promotion of IP protection of inventions and technological innovations within universities, institutes and research centres, and the linkage to the business environment to guarantee the effective exploitation of research results by enterprises.
The Continental Strategy on Geographical Indications (GIs) aims to create an enabling environment at the legal and institutional level for GIs in African countries.
In OAPI countries, the creation of National Committees on GIs, tasked with the prior examination of specifications, is mandatory for registering GIs. The role of these committees may also extend to the control, defence and promotion of GIs. This activity will support the creation and, where applicable, well-functioning of these bodies. It will focus on: