[A2k] USAID/Commerce IP work in Africa

[Sean Flynn]

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Here is a statement of the Dept. of Commerce's $3 million effort "to
strengthen IP regimes" in targeted African countries:



AGCI-USAID/USDOC PASA

As in integral part of the African Global Competitiveness Initiative
(AGCI) the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC), through the offices of
its Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) and its United States
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in consultation with the
International Trade Administration's Office of Africa, has undertaken
through an agreement with USAID, to assist the governments of identified
Sub Saharan African countries and regions to strengthen their
intellectual property (IP) protection regimes.

The agreement, a three year/three million dollar commitment signed in
July 2007, will enable USDOC to work in conjunction with the USAID
regional missions in Sub Saharan Africa, and in coordination with other
USG agencies, to strengthen IP regimes in the following regions and
countries: in West Africa, through programs with ECOWAS, Mali, Ghana,
and Nigeria; in East/Central Africa, through COMESA and Rwanda; and in
Southern Africa, through SADC and South Africa.  The programs will also
build public/private partnerships with industry, affiliated IP specific
organizations, such as the African Intellectual Property Organization
(OAPI) and the African Regional Industrial Property Organization
(ARIPO), WIPO, and civil society organizations.

The program envisions initiatives on the national level with resulting
regional impact, as well as regional initiatives.  These initiatives
will include the regional reform and harmonization of legislation; the
training of judges, IP officials, and customs officials; coordination of
IP enforcement; and increasing public awareness.

USDOC has to date, undertaken assessment visits to Mali, Ghana, and
Nigeria, and is currently working with the Mission in South Africa (and
coordinating with the U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ]) on an assessment
visit to South Africa to take place in conjunction with the CCA
Conference in November.

South Africa

CLDP would like to work with DTI on training for regulators and for
judges of the high court (or compliment the magistrates training that
DOJ is undertaking).

CLDP would like to work with SAFACT, IPACT, Recording Industry of SA,
and the Chamber of Commerce on the coordination of IP agencies and
procedures, identifying laws and regulations that need to be reformed,
and building public/private partnerships to effect better IP enforcement
capacity.

CLDP would like to work with Customs, DTI, and DOJ on IP Customs and
Border Enforcement regional training.