Monday, 17 December 2012

Anonymous

A review of African official IP websites: no. 23: Republic of Guinea

This Leo was on the verge of mixing up Guinea-Conakry or the Republic of Guinea with its neighbours Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Even if he did, he can be excused as they all have one thing in common: no website for their intellectual property offices. 

Although lacking a basic website for its IP office for the second year running, the resource-rich Republic of Guinea does not lack interests from 'commercial' entities such as the commercial law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills and the commercial airline, Etihad Airways. It manages this whilst facing EU sanctions like its neighbour, Republic of Guinea-Bissau.

One of these images is not a guinea; which one is it?


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Anonymous

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Anonymous
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18 December 2012 at 20:07 delete

Yep I do share your concerns – perhaps the answer lies in the 20 plus who are not members of either ARIPO or OAPI. Take the example of Nigeria, South Africa and the Arab countries they do have well established IP offices. My sense is that being members to one of these balkanised organisation have made individual member states absolutely lazy in establishing or ramping up their IP offices. So I am not surprised that some countries do not have the basic website, why do so when it is done for you. The question of PAIPO once again raises it head. Are these organisations reflecting the realities of the region or are they subtle pushing IP into oblivion with the much delight of DC. Concentrate on commercialisation be the best airline while IP resides in the lap of DC. Maybe its our way of dealing with the tragedy of missing the industrial revolution. Commercialisation and innovation must go hand in hand- without the one the other will have a painful death- Republic of Guinea is yet one of your examples- I wont be surprised there are others.

Perhaps it is this lethargy that is forcing the member states to move away from the question of PAIPO.

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