Adams & Adams Meets with ARIPO and ZIPO

In March, Adams & Adams Partners, Nicky Garnett, Jameel Hamid and the Africa Practice Manager, Menzi Maboyi, travelled to Zimbabwe for a series of meetings with our Associate Office, Brenda Matanga IP, the Director General of ARIPO, Mr Twebaze Bemanya and the Chief Registrar of Deeds, Companies and IP, Mr Willie Mushayi.

We were warmly welcomed by the DG of ARIPO, Mr Twebaze Bemanya and his team at the ARIPO HQ. The DG expressed the need for closer cooperation in promoting the ARIPO system. He highlighted the need for efficiency within ARIPO and outlined some of the challenges with member states in understanding their function within ARIPO. Key areas of collaboration were identified. We extended an invitation to the DG to attend our upcoming annual Africa Network Meeting.

Our final meeting of the day was with Mr Willie Mushayi (Chief Registrar of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property, Zimbabwe, and current Chairperson of the ARIPO Administrative Council). Although short, it was an equally good meeting and areas of collaboration were also identified. Mr Mushayi highlighted the challenges with staff placements and the knock-on effect to Madrid applications and meeting the strict examination deadlines.

Overall, our visit was a success as we were able to engage and share ideas with the DG of ARIPO and the Chief Registrar at ZIPO. Through our Associate Office we continue to identify areas of collaborations with the two institutions in promoting intellectual property in Zimbabwe and throughout the continent. Our face-to-face engagements with IP administrators remains an important aspect of our Africa Practice.