The
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is proposing to open 5 new regional offices around the world in 2014.
Proposed offices are to be located in China, Russia, the US and two yet-to-be-named
African countries.
China, Russia and
the United States were chosen because of their respective large population,
language (China’s national language, Mandarin is one of WIPO’s official
languages), size of trademark, patent and designs offices (largest in the
world) and creative and vibrant IP sector, number of patent application filed.
Africa was chosen
for its rising economic growth and need for capacity-building which would
increase its use of the IP system. The choice of location for Africa’s regional
offices is being discussed by the African Group within WIPO.
Intellectual Property Watch reports that discussion on this matter was quite intense as most Member States took the view that activities in existing external offices were
more country-focused than region-based and that rather than increase the
strength of information technology protection, more external offices may hamper
same.
Does Africa need WIPO-regional
offices? Where in Africa should these regional offices be located? Should the
same parameters used to select China, Russia and the US be applied to select
the location of Africa’s Regional Offices?
Africa does need
regional offices. As stated above, Africa’s use of IP systems will grow from
increased capacity-building. The technical assistance which the Regional
offices will provide to national IP offices may be invaluable. As this Leo
reported here,
national offices have sought technical assistance from WIPO on many occasions. Kingsley’s periodic review of
African official IP websites reveals that most African countries are
floundering in their respective management of their national IP offices.
If the same
parameters for China et al are used, Nigeria may score high on population and language
(English being Nigeria’s official language) but score quite low on size of
trade mark, patent and design offices as well as number of patent applications
filed.
How would other African
countries score on the same parameters?
Do you think host
countries will “convert” regional offices to their national IP offices?
1 comments:
Write commentsDespite it's current instabilities you may expect Egypt to be an African candidate here. Large population, a player in international treaties and large Registers by African standards. If WIPO are looking to expand services in each official UN language then it's also noteworthy that it's Arabic-speaking - and a country known for taking pan-Arab responsibilities.
Reply