We are pleased to announce the first-ever, continent-wide Africa Intellectual Property Forum: Intellectual Property, Regional Integration and Economic Growth in Africa!

What:

Entitled Africa Intellectual Property Forum: Intellectual Property, Regional Integration and Economic Growth in Africa, this first-of-its kind ministerial level Forum will focus on the Dynamic Role of Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement in Promoting Knowledge-Based Economies Through Innovation, Trade and Investment. In a truly international effort, the governments of the France, Japan, South Africa, and the United States, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in collaboration with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), and the international private sector, will bring together 600-800 public officials and private IP stakeholders to discuss the integral and critical role of IP in African economic growth through the incentivizing of creation, innovation, trade, and investment.

When:

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday, April 3-5, 2012

Registration will begin at 8h00 each day.

Program sessions will start at 9h00 and end at 17h00.

Where:

Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town International Convention Center
Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street
Cape Town 8001, South Africa

How:

Participants will engage in a series of plenary and breakout sessions to discuss the potential, challenges, and solutions to utilizing IP in the promotion of African economic growth, through innovation, trade, and investment, while protecting public health and safety.  The 3-day program will feature:

• 6 plenary sessions on Intellectual Property, Regional Integration and Economic Growth in Africa;
• 6 breakout sessions exploring the Application of Intellectual Property: this track will focus on the critical use of IP to foster innovation and creativity and promote development and economic growth in Africa;
• 6 breakout sessions devoted to the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property: this track will focus on enforcement approaches to prevent counterfeiting, piracy and other forms of IPR infringement, so as to promote innovation and investment and protect consumer safety in Africa; 
• 6 breakout sessions discussing the Administration and Management of Intellectual Property: this track will focus on the ways creators and innovators can work together (i.e.  unions and collective management organizations) to use IP laws to earn remuneration from their works and also focus on the role of government entities to operate intellectual property laws, in the areas of patent, copyright, trademarks and designs.

Download the draft Africa IP Forum Agenda & Africa IP Forum Agenda Summary

Download the Africa IP Forum Save the Date Flyer

View the Africa IP Forum Objectives Memo (English)

View the Africa IP Forum Objectives Memo (French)

View the Africa IP Forum Objectives Memo (Portuguese)

Who:

The three-day forum will bring more than 600 international government officials, African and international business representatives, IP organizations, IP artists, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders to Cape Town, South Africa April 3-5, 2012.

Submit your request for registration before March 1, 2012 to be considered to attend! 

Please note that the preliminary registration request will not guarantee participation, but will provide the organizers with information about potential participants. Given the limited space, participants will be contacted directly as they are confirmed. Please note that there is no registration fee to attend the Africa IP Forum. Lunch will be provided each day to confirmed participants. Delegates are requested to fund their travel and lodging to Cape Town, South Africa.
 

 Private Sector Sponsors

 Co-organizer U.S. Department of Commerce would like to specially thank the following sponsors for their contributions to the Africa IP Forum: