African regional IP systems are the leaders in terms of the number of IP objects

EAPO President Grigory Ivliev participated in the OAPI Administrative Council meeting. It was held in the city of Bangui, Central African Republic.

The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) was established to register patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, geographical indications, plant varieties. OAPI includes 17 French-speaking African states.

Grigory Ivliev noted that the EAPO is interested in further cooperation. In July this year, on the sidelines of WIPO Assemblies, the parties extended the Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed in 2019. The parties have also signed the Work Plan outlining specific activities. These cover key areas of work: IT cooperation and information exchange, sharing of experience and examination practices. The parties have already started to implement the Work Plan.

“Today, the African continent is steadily moving towards socio-economic and scientific and technological development. The IP system plays a key role here. Our regions have a great potential for growth in the use of IP tools. We are interested in cooperating to unlock this potential, to stimulate the inventive and patenting activity of citizens from the EAPO Member States, to encourage young people, small and medium-sized enterprises, universities and research centers,” Ivliev said.

There are great prospects for cooperation in the field of education. The EAPO is willing to assist everyone wishing to obtain higher education in IP. The Russian State Academy of Intellectual Property implements free quota-based training programs, including preparatory Russian language courses.

The parties also discussed organizing training seminars, cooperation between examiners, and ISA services for African applicants.

Grigory Ivliev held bilateral meetings with the heads of OAPI, ARIPO, and the Moroccan Patent Office on the sidelines of the meeting.