This activity aims to promote accession by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) member states to international agreements on intellectual property rights. Accessions can increase these states’ market value for trade and investment purposes.

At the same time, the activity will promote accession to ARIPO’s Intellectual Property (IP) protocols by ARIPO member states that have not yet joined some or all of ARIPO’s protocols.

AfrIPI created a pan-African case-law database on intellectual property rights under its 2021 annual work plan. This year, it will focus on maintaining the tool and continuously uploading new case-law on different IP rights.

Through this activity, AfrIPI aims to establish a network of judges in the ARIPO member and observer states. In the colloquium, the network will be proposed with the idea of sharing experiences and taking part in creating a case-law compendium.

In 2022, AfrIPI facilitated the organisation of a meeting between the European Business Council (EUBC) in Kenya and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA). Both parties agreed that it was important to implement intellectual property (IP) protection in a manner that preserves the interests of the European Union business community while ensuring that Kenyan consumers are protected.

The ARIPO Member States need support to provide quality intellectual property services to their users and the business community while ensuring adequate enforcement of intellectual property rights.

This activity aims to continue creating a solid network within the ARIPO Member States. In addition, the activity acknowledges the pivotal position of the national IP offices, which act institutionally as focal points of the AfrIPI project to inject political influence into the annual work plan activities.

Kilichi du Niger was registered as a geographical indication (GI) in the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) system in August 2021. As a famous GI, it is envisaged that it will be registered in the European Union (EU) system. This will give it legal recognition to fight the increases in its misuse.

On 3 April 2023, the CARIFORUM Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation (CarIPI) project organised a meeting with CARIFORUM IP offices to agree on a Regional Practice Paper on trade mark distinctiveness and types of marks.

CarIPI previously held several workshops for examiners on distinctiveness of trade marks. Additionally, questionnaires on distinctiveness and types of marks were sent to CARIFORUM IP offices. Based on the responses received, the practice paper is now ready for adoption.

On 21 March 2023, CarIPI organised an online training on ‘Design examination procedures: concepts of novelty and individual character’. The course was intended for IP examiners from the CARIFORUM IP offices.

As CARIFORUM countries often face capacity and resource constraints when providing services to meet the changing needs of the private sector, continued training of administrators of the IP system is essential for the effectiveness of IP systems at the national, regional and international levels.

From 1-2 March 2023, ARISE+ IPR will be coordinating and providing support for the 4th ASEAN Trade Mark and Design Convergence Meeting, which is being held in Bangkok, Thailand, together with the ASEAN IP Offices and ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC).

These parallel consultation meetings aim to improve trade marks and design services in the ASEAN territories. The focal point will be a discussion on the future of the ASEAN Common Guidelines, followed by break-out meetings of the Trade Mark Convergence Network and the Design Convergence Network.

As a result of EUIPO strengthening relationship with the Egyptian Trademarks and Industrial Designs Office (TIDO), a technical workshop on tools and practices took place from 7 to 9 February 2023 in Cairo, Egypt, for the North Africa region and Türkiye.

As well as TIDO, the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property and the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office participated in the workshop. It aimed to promote the European Union Intellectual Property Network’s tools and practices, as well as define new joint milestones.