Methodology For The Development Of National Intellectual Property Strategies Toolkit Tool 1 The Process

A methodology handbook describing the various stages of the national lP strategy formulation process, providing advice on how to involve and mobilize stakeholders and guide them through the consultative process leading to the strategy approval and adoption.

A companion handbook to the Baseline Questionnaire designed to support the collection of baseline survey data, providing an in-depth analysis explaining the benchmarking indicators used in the assessment of the national lP system.

A methodology handbook describing the various stages of the national lP strategy formulation process, providing advice on how to involve and mobilize stakeholders and guide them through the consultative process leading to the strategy approval and adoption.

A baseline survey questionnaire intended to assess the status of the national lP system and its links with national development priorities.

This book examines the harmonisation of Intellectual Property (IP) policy, law and administration in Africa. Two recent developments have brought this topic to the fore. The first is the escalation of long-standing efforts to establish a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organisation (PAIPO), a continental initiative. The second is the current sub-regional attempt to operationalise the IP provisions of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s Protocol on Trade (articles 9b and 24) and its Protocol on Science, Technology and Innovation (article 2m). Intellectual Property Policy, Law and Administration in Africa discusses the viability of such initiatives with particular reference to the current socio-economic status of Africa’s nations. With a view to contributing to future developments in Africa at both a continental and sub-regional level, the author considers this issue through the lens of advancing the public interest in IP. Ncube argues that harmonisation initiatives ought to be crafted in a way that is supportive of the development aspirations of African states. Consequently, she urges due consideration of individual states’ unique conditions and aspirations in any harmonisation venture, a necessity outlined in article 7 of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. This book will be of great relevance to scholars and policy makers with an interest in IP law and African law in general.

Examining the harmonisation of Intellectual Property policy, law and administration in Africa, this book evaluates the effectiveness of efforts to establish continental Intellectual Property institutions and frameworks. It also considers sub-regional initiatives led by the regional economic communities and the regional Intellectual Property organisations, focusing on relevant protocols and agreements that address Intellectual Property as well as the implementing institutions. The book assesses the progress of such initiatives with particular reference to the current socio-economic status of African states. It argues that that harmonisation initiatives need to be crafted in a way that is supportive of the developmental goals of African states and advocates for due consideration of individual states’ unique conditions and aspirations. This book will be of great relevance to scholars and policy makers with an interest in Intellectual Property law and its harmonisation in Africa.

"The prime audience for this guide is the national project team that has been charged with the responsibility of developing a national IP strategy. A secondary audience is any steering committee that has been established to oversee the team and any other management arrangements put in place to oversee the work of the national project team. The guide can also be used by any interested parties to gain a better insight into or understanding of how national IP strategies could be formulated and implemented based on the experiences of WIPO in working closely with the national authorities and stakeholder groups from member states in different regions of the world." -- From Background, page 6.

There is growing interest in documenting the wealth of traditional knowledge (TK) that has been developed by indigenous peoples and local communities around the world. But documenting TK can raise important issues, especially as regards intellectual property. This Toolkit presents a range of easy-to-use checklists and other resources to help ensure that anyone considering a documentation project can address those issues effectively.