The Women's IP World Annual 2019/2020

IP FUNDING;
A KEY TO ENTREPREUNEURIAL DEVELOPMENT
THROUGH IP ASSET OWNERSHIP IN AFRICA
It is pertinent to note that Africa’s
development requires a substantial financial
boost.
However, African markets and economies
cannot develop if Africans are not owners
of their intelligence in talents, skills, and
resources.
Also, that, the effort required to make
this happen does not only depend on the
understanding or appreciating of the fact
of Africa’s richness in potential, as is often
proclaimed.
The burden lies with the continent, actually
seeing that this translates into Africans being
equally positioned to take proper advantage
of their riches and resources for their wellness.
Wealth creation and job opportunities cannot
be imagined nor imposed. The continent
needs to sort, organise, and see that what is
happening is real.
Written by Mary Concilia Anchang, Onambele,
Anchang & Associates - www.oaalaw.cm
R&D in Africa
In the past three decades of law, business
and comparative IP practice with little
compliance mechanism observed, I have
observed isolated researchers in Africa and
also universities with recognised research
units, make free publicity of their discoveries
and know-how without consideration for
the ownership nor money value of their
intelligence worth.
A considerable amount of training and
research efforts through workshops and
seminars have been going on in Africa in the
past decades; even so, with minimal impact
on the ownership aptitude of Africans - of
their intelligence and virtual IP assets.
At these seminars, resolutions are reached;
however, implementation falls short. Right
after these efforts, the institutions and
concerned actors continue as if they have no
obligation to undertake strategies; to either
implement the resolutions or enforce policies
to fund research for improved performance in
the field.
CAMEROON
Having travelled vastly through several parts of the world, I try to use
my professional experiences to influence competitive business habits
and policies, as the need occurs without complex nor bias. My goal is to
contribute towards building a highly attractive business environment for
the economic empowerment of African businesses and institutions and also
push the much-needed gender agenda for African women. The world needs
to be safe. However, extremes in the rich and poverty gaps between the
tenants of the earth do not advance this debate.
In Africa, given the particularities and
multicultural background of the people, the
need to own virtual assets seems strange or
a utopia. It has not been a tradition of the
people.
This leaves the ugly impression that IP asset
ownership is a luxury. This may be interpreted
as selflessness, hospitality, charity, or
negligence. The reason may also sometimes
be explained or excused by ignorance.
However, such arguments can no longer
prevail in the 21st century. The world order
has changed. Value is in money and capital or
assets ownership.
Nevertheless, Africa need not be
discouraged. With the increasing growth of
African markets, and the continent acclaimed
as one of the world’s “most attractive and
competitive” as well as an exponential
consumer population. By 2060 it obliges
innovative ways of doing business and brings
great hope to the continent of abundant
sunshine and rain.
There is a need to adopt
appropriate strategies and
policies to fund African
research. The time is ripe
and Now.
Less than 20 percent of the technology used
in Africa is not African owned. Worse still, it is
not free for transfer. It is expensive.
If Africans do not own IP assets, they may
never make headway in capital and industry.
Most Sub Saharan IP offices and markets
depend on a significant IP importation market
in products and services to survive in business.
This weakens the economy. Whereas, as
IP asset owners, African businesses could
witness increased exportation to influence
market standards and statistics in brands for
goods and services.
While it is evident that old money belongs
to asset owners of yesterday, more virtual
assets are yet to be owned today. If targeted
by Africans, the scope of intelligence is
immeasurable. The establishment may be
accused of capitalism. However, the only way
Africa can make an entry into new markets is
by owning their intelligence. This provides
added value and competitiveness in the
marketplace. African businesses must be
seen to own more and more titles in designs
and models, trademarks, patents, labels,
geographical indications, etc.
When this happens, African’s can make an
exciting inroad in the IP marketplace.
As such, an opportunity for African IP experts
to sort and export IP services abroad.
Funding IP in Africa will open a floodgate
of business ventures in a multitude of
entrepreneurial activities for jobs and
welfare creation in Africa through
sustainable value chains.
Funding for
R&D
Policymakers must oblige
the budgets and efforts to
finance R&D.This requires the
involvement of specialists and
experts. Funding will facilitate the
creation of prototypes needed
to validate innovative ideas and
discoveries for new investment
opportunities and potential
markets.
While it is evident that the
establishment only recognises
conventional articles and concepts for use,
the urge for new concepts and markets
remains unequivocal. However, the burden to
change the order of things rests irrevocably
on efforts to be made by the aspirant.
(Africans)
Once an unconventional idea meets
the recognised norms as internationally
approved, the value becomes evident and
open to the world market rules for pricing
within the supply and demand rules.
This involves a lengthy and very costly
process prior.
The facts hitherto argue in favour of the
unequivocal need to adequately fund Africa
research. The paradigms and impact on
Africa’s development potential will shift
upwards if Africans own at least 30 percent
of their intelligence in IP assets. By doing
so, they should apply adapted solutions to
African problems.
R&D in Africa must be accompanied as is in
other parts of the world. Africans should
be able to protect their findings to become
owners of their intelligence.
Private institutions like The AFRICAN
CHAMBER OF Trade &Commerce (ACC)
through her advocacy platforms, seeks to
channel Africa’s trade and industry through a
shared federated vision.
The target is to build adapted infrastructures
to guarantee Africa’s economic development
with an emphasis on IP asset ownership by
Africans.
The Role of IP for Africa’s Socio-economic
development is critical. While vehicles
like the ACC work with experts, inventors,
businesses, and stakeholders to secure
“sector-oriented inclusive business models
to grow African markets, the need to fund
research remains paramount.
Competitiveness in value chains can only
be experimented through entrepreneurial,
innovative start-up initiatives for Africa’s
economic growth. As asset owners, African
markets will be more attractive with the
potential and capacity to conquer new
markets. Thus, owners and consumers of
services and the tools they sell will result
in African businesses and infrastructures
witnessing substantial growth percentages.
There is, therefore, urgent need to redirect
our policies and resources towards funding
research and development in Africa.
With Africans owning solutions for African
problems, the socio-economic impact will be
friendly and attractive with an even playing
ground for Africans and their development
partners.
In all fairness, better welfare resides in
the ability to offer competitive goods
and services produced locally for local
consumption.
As signatories to several bilateral regional
and international binding trade tools (The
recently ratified Continental Free Trade
Agreement CFTA, AGOA, OMC, EPA, PCT,
Madrid Agreement and Protocol, Paris
Convention, ADPIC, The Bangui Laws, etc.)
Africa may not take full advantage of these
laws in the absence of IP asset ownership in
exchange.
If we consider that “ECONOMIC RIGHTS “are
fundamental Human rights, Africa’s industrial
development can no longer wait. This calls
for institutional advocacy with skilled experts
to address these concerns.
In conclusion
Knowledge ownership is something Africans
have shied away from, for centuries.
However, IP constitutes an integral part
of African assets in virtual capital worth.
Acquisitions should be considerably funded
for African economies to witness prosperity
from their cultural heritage, with Africans as
owners of their talents in quality and value.
Finally, the need to concert and
forge reliable strategies for
successful partnership initiatives
to fund IP asset ownership in
Africa is unequivocal. This should
influence the pace and standards
of business. The time is NOW not
TOMORROW!
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