CARIPI

On 15 February 2023, CarIPI collaborated with the International Trademark Association (INTA) to host a webinar on the formal requirements for trade mark applications, targeting the IP offices in the English-speaking Caribbean. The discussion covered matters related to best practices, formalities and classification issues in particular. Legal experts from the EUIPO and the UK IP office were invited to participate in the discussion and share their practice.

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.

On 7-9 March 2023, the CarIPI project hosted a webinar as part of the Mentorship Programme: potential GI value chains. The focus was on the marketing component and it addressed packaging and branding, marketing and distribution.

This session built on past activities under the mentorship programme. These activities focused on providing technical assistance to nine producer groups from eight participating CARIFORUM countries in the key areas of developing specifications, producer group organisation and developing control systems.

On 29-30 March 2023, CarIPI, WIPO and the CCJ Academy for Law hosted a workshop on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and IP mediation. The online session raised awareness of the judiciary and legal professionals on matters related to IP mediation from global and regional perspectives.