Adams Advisory - Africa Update 2020
"Innovation inputs and outputs are still concentrated in very few economies; a global innovation divide persists”. Unfortunately, Africa is still depicted as the poor relation in the whole spectrum of innovation and Intellectual Property uptake. Read Adams & Adams' Advisory Insights into African investment opportunities.
"Innovation inputs and outputs are still concentrated in very few economies; a global innovation divide persists”.
Unfortunately, Africa is still depicted as the poor relation in the whole spectrum of innovation and Intellectual Property uptake.
Read Adams & Adams' Advisory Insights into African investment opportunities.
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NIGERIA<br />
KEY OPPORTUNITIES & CONCERNS<br />
+ Oil reserves and advanced oil industry infrastructure will earn significant revenue for years to come<br />
+ <strong>Africa</strong>’s most populated country offers a large domestic market with a large educated and affluent<br />
consumer base<br />
+ A motivated local talent and entrepreneur class exists to exploit the country’s trade links and diversify<br />
the economy from oil dependency<br />
– Boko Haram brutal terrorist activities continue to destabilise parts of the country<br />
– Government corruption is a significant drain on the country’s resources and will take years of<br />
dedicated effort to alleviate<br />
– The oil-based economy is not sustainable and has led to unpredictable levels of government revenue<br />
INTA Workshop Promotes Further Positive<br />
Changes at the Registry<br />
Following last year’s release of the first-ever compendium<br />
of trade mark opposition rulings by the Registry, a workshop<br />
with senior trade mark officials was held in Abuja, in<br />
collaboration with INTA.<br />
Simon Brown (partner) and Kelly Thompson (partner),<br />
together with local lawyers and a team from our Associate<br />
Office, provided training sessions to expand the knowledge<br />
of senior officials on trade mark prosecution and opposition<br />
issues, particularly focusing on international best practice.<br />
One of the focal points of the workshop, which was held in<br />
April 2019, was to work towards changes in respect to the<br />
operational challenges faced by the Registry.<br />
WIPO Spec Drafting Workshop<br />
Invited by WIPO, Johnny Fiandeiro, <strong>Adams</strong> & <strong>Adams</strong><br />
partner, travelled to Lagos, in May 2019, to provide<br />
patent specification drafting training to members of<br />
the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and<br />
Investment under which the Registry falls.<br />
The workshop was arranged by WIPO but largely run<br />
by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and<br />
Investment. There were around 20 participants, mainly<br />
from universities and private practice from all parts<br />
of Nigeria. With little spec drafting experience, the<br />
participants were engaged, enthusiastic, and eager<br />
to learn.<br />
The trip also included visits to our Associate Offices in Abuja<br />
and Lagos.<br />
AFRICA UPDATE <strong>2020</strong> | 35
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