Tuesday 1 December 2009

Darren Olivier

Aripo Conference Insight

Nicky Garnett (Adams & Adams) has kindly responded to Afro-IP's call for information from the ARIPO Conference in Gabarone last week:

"..the meeting was an excellent opportunity for us to witness the inner workings of ARIPO and to gain a better understanding of the organisation and its current projects.

There were substantive discussions surrounding the domestication of the Harare and Banjul Protocols into the national laws of the various signatory states and a tacit acknowledgement by all the officials present that this must be done without delay in order to make the system more attractive to potential users. Joyce Banya from WIPO's Africa Bureau was in attendance as the Africa Bureau has been very active in assisting many of the member countries with improvements to their system and the development of national IP Policies. INTA's OAPI / ARIPO Committee also presented their preliminary report back on the work that they have been doing to obtain information about the trade mark laws in the ARIPO member states.

There is a growing sense that the ARIPO system is gaining ground and it seems to be growing in its capacity (with WIPO's assistance) to act as a regional intellectual property lobbying body and effect real and substantive improvements for the member states who wish to take advantage of the benefits of the organisation."

Yesterday Afro Leo took the unusual step of acknowledging the attorney who worked in a case before Supreme Court of Appeal. In previous posts he has tried not to for a number of reasons that will be explained, but not today. The reason for making specific reference to Nolwazi Gcaba is because she is South Africa's first black IP attorney to take a matter to the SCA. In most circumstances such an acknowledgement would not be necessary and probably even offensive. However, those that have followed the court decisions reported on in this blog, most notably demonstrated by the all white appearance of ANC and COPE's legal teams in their highly publicised and politically motivated trade mark spat, will have noticed the significant absence of colour in the top echelons of the IP world in South Africa. The achievement and those that have helped it occur should therefore be celebrated.

Darren Olivier

Darren Olivier

Subscribe via email (you'll be added to our Google Group)

4 comments

Write comments
Anonymous
AUTHOR
1 December 2009 at 11:15 delete

Why do Africans always have to bring the question of race/colour to the fore? Well done to Nolwazi Gcaba - she got there on merit and hard work. Physical attributes have no relevance on this blog.

Reply
avatar
2 December 2009 at 14:07 delete

Hi – the reality is that the continued credibility and growth of the IP profession in RSA depends on its ability to attract and nurture people of colour.

Reply
avatar
2 December 2009 at 14:07 delete

Hi – the reality is that the continued credibility and growth of the IP profession in RSA depends on its ability to attract and nurture people of colour.

Reply
avatar
Anonymous
AUTHOR
3 December 2009 at 00:19 delete

Why do some people get all shifty and uncomfortable when Africans are applauded for their achievements? Why the insecurity? Well done to Nolwazi Gcaba - she got there on merit and hard work. Physical attributes (if commendable) should have relevance on any blog.

Reply
avatar