Only one week away from the end of his cyber-trek atround Africa's official IP websites, the indefatiguable Kingsley Egbuonu (how sore his fingers must be by now!) has reached Zambia in his A-toZ sampling activities. Landlocked it may be, but Zambia is definitely all at sea when it comes to offering online IP information, as Kingsley explains:
"Overview
Zambia is a Contracting Party to a number of treaties on intellectual property including the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. It is also a Member of the ARIPO.
Copyright Office
• The Copyright Administration (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services) is the competent office responsible for copyright and related rights in Zambia.
• This office currently has no website.
Industrial Property Office
• The Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) is the competent office responsible for the administration of intellectual property rights in Zambia.
• The website for this office is www.pacra.org.zm
• The Intellectual Property Unit (IPU) of the Zambian Police is responsible for intellectual property enforcement in Zambia.
Social Media Presence
None found.
Intellectual Property update in Zambia
Afro-IP has reported on various developments of practical significance in recent times including here, here and here.
Conclusion
Afro-IP found a very neat website for the industrial property office (PACRA) in Zambia. This website succinctly explains the different types of IP and how to obtain registration for each one of them in Zambia – including forms and fees. Other good features on the website include the business names search facility, the news/events page to keep users informed, and key opposition decisions which are on how to register a trade mark page.
Our discovery is very encouraging when compared with other ARIPO member states such as Swaziland, Liberia and Malawi -- but there is always that bit of room for improvement. Afro Leo would have fancied a search facility for registrable intellectual property rights and some social media presence which could help PACRA with intellectual property sensitisation".
Kingsley tweets as
@IPinAfrica
1 comments:
Write commentsNice overview.
ReplyCurrently, Zambia is also in the process of drafting a new constitution and a draft has already been circulated for public comment.
Article 63 of this draft Zambian Constitution expressly provides for intellectual property rights.
I've posted the link below:
http://ipkenya.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/constitutional-review-and-intellectual-property-rights-zambias-bold-step-forward/