Africa Regional Update Today in Barcelona - 3pm Hall 8.0-D3

Africa Regional Update Today in Barcelona - 3pm Hall 8.0-D3

By Afro Chic   Monday, May 22, 2017   1 comment:

Ed Conlon and Sarah Morgan (WIPR) did a great job promoting today's Africa Regional Update in a two page spread in the INTA Daily News published by WIPR yesterday extensively quoting several of the speakers together with Alison Simpson from MarkMonitor.

This is just a friendly reminder to those of you who are at INTA to attend this session as well as the Africa Reception after that, and if you are not at the session, Afro-Chic will be tweeting about it all on the @afroip handle.

According to official INTA figures there are 10557 delegates registered for the Barcelona event which is a new record, and an increase by 18% of delegates from Africa over 2016 figures. Let's hope there is a great turnout for the RM50 Africa Regional Update which will be held in Hall8.0-D3 today at 15h30 - 17h00, followed by the Africa Reception hosted by INTA.

 

For the full article published online click here.

For more information on the session click here.

Read More

INTA's Africa Focus

INTA's Africa Focus

By Darren Olivier   Tuesday, April 30, 2013   No comments:

As everyone is gearing up for the annual migration to INTA (unfortunately not  to the Serengeti) next week, here is a reminder of the Africa sessions. 

If you will be attending and on twitter please share your experiences and updates using #INTAAfrica. The @afroip handle will be tweeting furiously during the Africa sessions that Afro Leo is able to attend. Guests posts after the sessions are also welcome - please send them here.

Tuesday:

Table topic: 1:15 - 3:15
Challenges in the Enforcement of Trademarks in Regional Economic Integration in Africa
Saudin Jacob Mwakaje, NexLaw Advocates, Patent and Trademark Attorneys (Tanzania)

Regional Update: Africa 3:30 - 4:45

Over the past 10 years, Africa has experienced rapid and significant development, on both economic and legislative fronts, but challenges still remain.  Panelists will discuss issues of importance such as the development of various IP laws, the organization of IP Offices, Madrid Protocol and developments in case law, as well as counterfeiting, enforcement and brand protection issues in Africa.

Moderator: Simon Brown, Adams & Adams (South Africa)

Speakers:

William I. Maema, Iseme, Kamau & Maema Advocates (Kenya)

Uche Nwokocha, Aluko & Oyebode (Nigeria)
Darren Olivier, Adams & Adams (South Africa)

Wednesday

Table topic:1:15 - 3:15
Trademark Searching and Clearance in Africa
Kay Rickelman, Spoor & Fisher (South Africa)

Read More

Africa IP - what would you like to know?

Africa IP - what would you like to know?

By Darren Olivier   Tuesday, March 05, 2013   No comments:

Over on the INTA 2013 Meeting Linkedin Group there is a discussion "Africa: what do you want to know?" calling for your questions on the most common Africa IP concerns? This year the regional update is moderated by the experienced Adams & Adams' Simon Brown and yours truly is in the dock, hoping to make it as relevant as possible.

Several years ago, the Africa session was scrapped from the agenda. With your help and some exposure on this blog, we got it re-inserted and it is now in a more favourable time slot. Please attend, question and heckle. But most importantly, please take a few seconds to ask your questions on the Linkedin Group or send us an email here.

RT50 Regional Update: Africa - Tuesday 15h30 - 16h45

Intermediate Level

Over the past 10 years, Africa has experienced rapid and significant development, on both economic and legislative fronts, but challenges still remain.  Panelists will discuss issues of importance such as the development of various IP laws, the organization of IP Offices, Madrid Protocol and developments in case law, as well as counterfeiting, enforcement and brand protection issues in Africa.

Moderator:
Simon Brown, Adams & Adams (South Africa)

Speakers:

William I. Maema, Iseme, Kamau & Maema Advocates (Kenya)
Uche Nwokocha, Aluko & Oyebode (Nigeria)
Darren Olivier, Adams & Adams (South Africa)

Read More

Africa and the INTA: no excuses allowed

Africa and the INTA: no excuses allowed

By Jeremy   Friday, January 13, 2012   No comments:

2012: time to put Africa
on the map at INTA

This year's International Trademark Association (INTA) takes place in Washington DC from 5 to 9 May. After last year's furore over the disappearance of Africa from the programme, Afro Leo is delighted to announce that it has been restored for 2012: an African Regional Session will be held on Wednesday 9 May, from 10.15am to 11.30am.

Now for a growl from Afro Leo.

It's no good saying that there ought to be an Africa Session, complaining when it's dropped -- and then not bothering to turn up for it.  There are plenty of other opportunities to do your shopping (and don't pretend that you're not disappearing off to the shops ...) -- and if you aren't clubbing and overdoing it on Tuesday night you shouldn't have any problem getting up in time for a 10.15am meeting.

Don't say either that there's no point in going because you only meet other Africans there and you know them already. Apart from the fact that it's simply not true -- I spotted a couple of big corporate non-Africans at the session two years ago, one of whom even asked a question -- you can make sure that the event is better attended by people from outside the Continent by dragging them along. If each African attending INTA were to bring in one non-African, imagine how impressive the session would be.

This is a big year for Africa.  The May session is the first since the Arab Spring and the first since the founding of South Sudan. It coincides with a time when the once-prosperous markets of North America and Europe are looking shabbily recessional, and where entrepreneurs are seeking new opportunities. An article in The Economist recently pointed to the increasing growth potential which has sprung from the emergence in much of Africa of a large, educated and relatively affluent middle class with matching aspirations. But there's not much hope of persuading people of this if all they see at INTA is a largely empty room with a sign saying "Africa" hanging on the door.

Read More