46th Session of the Administrative Council of ARIPO
The 46th Session of the Administrative Council of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Mozambique from 21 to 25 November 2022.
Director General, Bemanya Twebaze, has called on member states to double efforts to ensure that intellectual property be used to address challenges that include access to medicines, food security, employment creation, and climate change.
The appeal comes as a result of low ratification and domestication of some of the ARIPO protocols, among the member states. A majority of these protocols have yet to be ratified and domesticated by the member states, which creates obstacles for harmonisation and development of IP laws. In addition to this, it affects services for the co-ordination and development of IP activities.
Mr Daren Tang (Director General of WIPO), invited as a guest of honour, emphasized in his opening address the importance of coming together to transform IP into a powerful driver of jobs, growth and opportunity so that no-one is left behind. He also pledged to building on the existing foundations in the relationship between WIPO and ARIPO.
Discussions on the proposals to amend some of the Protocols in order to make them more user-friendly and align them to relevant international treaties and best practices were also held. More importantly, the draft Regulations for the implementation of the newly adopted Kampala Protocol on Voluntary Registration of Copyright and Related Rights was deliberated on.

ARIPO – increase in official fees and amendments to Harare Protocol and Regulations to come into effect 1 March 2025
In a notice signed by the Director General of ARIPO, Bemanya Twebaze dated 31 January 2025, ARIPO announced that amendments to the Harare Protocol and Regulations will come into effect on 1 March 2025...
February 10 2025

48th Session of the ARIPO Administrative Council
Lesotho played host to this year’s annual Session of the ARIPO Administrative Council, which took place from 28 October 2024 to 1 November 2024. The Session was officially opened by the Minister of ...
December 10 2024

Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants comes into force
On 24 November 2024 the Arusha Protocol finally came into force, almost 10 years after it was first adopted in Arusha, Tanzania on 6 July 2015. The Protocol aims to create a harmonised system across c...
December 09 2024