In this, the first in a series of weekly A-to-Z review of official IP websites, Afro Leo's friend Kingsley Egbuonu visits the People`s Democratic Republic of Algeria -- and this is what he finds:
Office for copyright and related rights
• The National Office of Copyrights and Related Rights (ONDA) under the Ministry of Communication and Culture is responsible for the protection and management of copyright in Algeria.Office for industrial property rights
• The office has a working official website (http://www.onda.dz/) which is in French, though some useful documents (e.g. forms) are either in English or Arabic.
• The structure of the website appears interactive (for authors as well as third parties) and, among other things, users can seek to obtain authorisation to exploit protected works.
• The website does not make use of social media platforms.
• Although a few pages on the website remains under construction and the copyright notice is dated 2009, it has received over 601,000 visitors.
• The Algerian National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI) is the main authority responsible for the examination, registration and protection of rights in patents, trade marks, industrial designs, integrated circuits and appellation of origin.
• INAPI does maintain an official website (http://www.inapi.org) which is also in French.
• Users will find the website up-to-date, interactive and very resource-full. For example, it has a list of professional representatives and an official bulletin for industrial property (BOPI).
• Users cannot yet file online, but, can make use of the search facility for inspection although this requires member registration for access.
• Although the website does not make use of social media, it is impressive to see that the office value the views of its users.You can contact Kingsley on Twitter at @IPinAfrica
