Although CLDP felt that the original agenda was balanced, they explained that they were attempting to appease the detractors by including additional tracks. They were cautiously optimistic at the time but one week on, little progress seems to have been made.
Several sources have suggested that Afro Leo seek answers from the South African Government and in particular the DTI. However, telephone calls and emails to the DTI by Afro Leo last week went unanswered.
The view of readers at the time of this post, according to the poll alongside which completes today, is that 59% believe the agenda stacks up or could do with only minor improvements, 41% believe that significant changes need to be made with only 1 voter recording the view that the agenda is wholly inadequate. Please contribute your thoughts by voting here today - they are important.
CLDP confirmed that numbers for the planned Summit were over 300 and counting.
One view which has not been heard (simply because this blogger has been busy collecting reader thoughts on the topic) is that of fellow Afro-IP blogger Jeremy. Jeremy is as passionate about IP in Africa as he is dispassionate over its politics - with some luck this request will now stir a post from him.
1 comments:
Write commentsI was surprised when I saw a mail signed by some NGO’s who claim to speak for Africa in terms of the proposed IP Summit.
ReplyUnfortunately, their agenda is one sided and does not fully represent IP issues in Africa. Such a conference should be practical and not solely academic as they have presented!
Early last year, The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) received emails from the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) to make inputs in preparing the Agenda for the African IP summit.
Since we have been part of two workshops on IP held in Accra in 2009 and 2010, we were very happy and contributed. MUSIGA is also a member of the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) On the FIM platform, this summit was fully discussed and inputs were made from the various members hence my surprise.
I wish to say that those NGO's only want to undermine the hard work we have done since last year in coming out with a practical agenda. Such a Conference in Africa is long overdue and it is unfortunate that some NGO's would like to sabotage our effort for their one sided agenda at this time.
For and on behalf of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).
Mrs. Diana Hopeson Mr. Bice Osei KuffourFormer President, MUSIGA President, MUSIGA