Africa Network Meeting 2022
Sharing industry insights at the Adams & Adams Africa Network Meeting
Adams & Adams hosted its ninth annual Africa Network Meeting on 15 September 2022, bringing together local partners, practitioners, registry staff and registrars from across the continent to share insights and challenges of the African IP community. The event (attended by representatives from some 30 African countries), is the biggest Africa IP seminar of its kind, was held virtually for the second time after the success of last year’s virtual meeting.
This year, 125 attendees joined the meeting, including senior representatives from the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), as well as the South African and Nigerian Registries, who provided their insights on the way forward in protecting IP rights in their respective jurisdictions, as well as across the continent.
A welcome by Simon Brown, trade mark attorney and partner at Adams & Adams, followed by an address by Kelly Thomson, Adams & Adams’ chairperson, kick started a morning of interesting topics and discussions on the current IP landscape in Africa. Talks from Adams & Adams professionals covered ‘How to identify a good invention’, ‘The Hype about NFTS and the Metaverse’, and ‘Alternative forms of enforcement. There was also a country updates regarding IP news and developments on the continent.
A highlight of the event was an inspiring address by guest speaker Dr Reza Mia, who shared his personal story about the invention of the Pegasus Vertical Business Jet. This African innovation, which was recently featured in the Hollywood blockbuster movie The Lost City, is a lightweight hybrid passenger aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capabilities similar to a helicopter.
“It was wonderful to bring together the African IP community for another informative, beneficial Africa Network Meeting. Every year, the event highlights the exciting role of IP on this continent and demonstrates the importance of protecting and harnessing the value of creativity and innovation. Adams & Adams is proud to contribute to fulfilling our continent’s potential,” says Simon Brown, partner and head of the trade mark Africa practice.
Find relevant discussions from this year’s event below.
