IP system to unlock Africa citizens’ creativity, innovation

ITRealms:

African leaders and about  50 government ministers from across the continent that attended November 3 2015, African Ministerial Conference on Intellectual Property (IP) for an Emerging Africa” have concurred that such initiative will unlock  citizens’ creativity and innovation, ITRealms reports.

 
The Conference which was held in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, saw Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim and Senegal Prime Minister Mahammed Boun Abdallah Dionne join World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General, Francis Gurry in stressing the importance of intellectual property (IP) in incentivizing innovation and creativity to promote economic and social development across Africa, ITRealms gathered.

“Ultimately, the source of all innovation and creativity is human. And Africa is the cradle of humanity, so it is in this sense the origin of all innovation and creativity that characterizes our species as human beings. Well-developed national intellectual property systems can help African countries unlock their citizens’ creativity and innovation, boosting economic growth, he said,” said Gurry in welcoming the delegates.

“Intellectual property is a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition of a healthy and vibrant innovation ecosystem. It is a means of capturing a competitive advantage that is conferred by innovation and it is a means of rewarding investment, human and financial resources, in the generation of new knowledge and innovation,” Gurry stated.

ITRealms also reports that Mauritius President, Gurib-Fakim cited positive economic growth prospects for African countries over the next decade and highlighted the “imperative need for Africa to protect IP rights in order to build sustainable knowledge economies by leveraging the benefits of science, technology and innovation.”

“In this globally fiercely competitive international economic landscape, the creation and management including protection of knowledge will be central to building and spearheading wealth creation and integration in the global economy,” said Gurib-Fakim.

Senegalese Prime Minister Dionne, on his part, ITRealms learnt, called the conference timely, due to the challenges facing Africa. He added that intellectual property can help ensure sustainable and inclusive development resulting in poverty reduction and increased economic competitiveness. “Innovation is the basis of all development,” he said.

Cyriacus Nnaji/GEE

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ICANN anxious over implementation of IANA-IPR proposal

ITRealms:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has expressed support for the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG) proposal on Intellectual Property (IP), but is worried over its implementation, reports ITRealms.

ICANN board of directors’ chairman, Dr. Steve Crocker made this known in a formal statement sighted by ITRealms at the weekend, saying that although ICANN supports ICG proposal and the underlying proposals from Community Working Group (CWG), Consolidated RIR IANA Stewardship Proposal (CRISP) and IANAPLAN, its focus would be on the implementation processes.

For Dr. Crocker, the ICANN Board believes that for stability and pragmatic operational reasons, the IANA Functions Operator must have operational control over the IANA.ORG domain. 

He explained that during the transition, ICANN is prepared to transfer full ownership of the IANA-related trademarks to a neutral third party mutually agreed among the operational communities with the understanding that ICANN, as the current IANA Functions Operator, will be granted license to those trademarks and ICANN will maintain operational control of the IANA.ORG domain for as long as ICANN remains the IANA Functions Operator. 

“If the transfer during the transition affects the timeline, we advise delay until after the transition,” he said.

Stressing that in that event ICANN is ready to hold the IPR as interim measure but commits to transfer it within 120 days after the neutral third party is identified by the operational communities.

ICANN therefore believes this position of the board is neutral and in the public interest, as the board expects comments from the Internet community.

+ITRealms DSA +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms) +ICANN  
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Experts say piracy ‘kills’ innovation, local economies

Experts in intellectual property rights agreed that piracy ‘kills’ innovation and local economies, even as Microsoft cautions Nigeria about the impact of piracy World Intellectual property.

Participants at the 2012 World Intellectual Property (IP) Day roundtable which focused on ‘Visionary Innovators’ held to commemorate the World Intellectual Property Organisations’ 12th annual Day in Lagos, were of the opinion that piracy of works have consistently stifled growth both on innovation and economically.

The event organized by Microsoft Nigeria in collaboration with Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) recognized the fact that many people behind the intellectual property revolutionized the way people live their lives each day.

Some of those who spoke at the event included Director, Ibadan Zonal Office, Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr. Babatunde Adetula, Managing Director, Steelcon Global Hitech, Mr. George Spiff,  Mr. Seyi Owolabi of Multichoice Nigeria, Mrs. Ugochi Agoreyo, Anti-Piracy Manger, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa and Serge Ntamack, Anti Piracy Lead, Microsoft WECA. 

They noted in dismay that artists, inventors, musicians, doctors, and computer scientists to name a few who are usually behind every innovative, life-changing product or idea stands on the verge of extinction because they are not getting reward and economic value for their inputs to the societal growth.

Also, they lamented that for many innovators, piracy deters this success and could discourage development.

Specifically, in Africa, the effects are particularly damaging to emerging economies, to small businesses and to individuals.

Anti Piracy Lead, Microsoft WECA, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, Mr. Serge Ntamack noted that the essence of the event was to discuss, for instance, how the use of non-genuine software threatens legitimate businesses and creates a negative impact on both global and local economies.

He also called for the creation of sound Intellectual Property (IP) policies in the country, asserting “Counterfeiting only thrives in places with weak or non-existent IP laws.”

In an interview with ITRealms Online, Mr. Babatunde Adetula, described piracy as a cankerworm to the nation’s economy.

“It is like a caterpillar that eats up the pillars of the economy.  If not checked, pirated software, pirated books and broadcasting would damage the Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that are involved in property innovation and development,” he said.

Adetula stressed that Intellectual property is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, but a global issue that needs to be addressed to ensure software innovation and development, reassuring of NCC’s drive to ensure that those involved in piracy are punished.

In her contribution, Mrs. Ugochi Agoreyo, the Anti-Piracy  Manager, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, pointed out that piracy has continuously discouraged economic development and encouraged the success of pirates due to increased patronage in pirated innovations.

She said the company would partner with government and intellectual property owners to tackle intellectual property infringement.

Remmy Nweke
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Resourcery wins WIPO award

Resourcery Plc has received the Intellectual Property Champ Nigeria award, according to the Mr. Aderemi Adejumo, the Head of Applications.

Adejumo who received the award on behalf of the company, noted that as part of the ongoing efforts to foster healthy and competitive economies worldwide, Microsoft Corporation recently partnered the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in celebrating this year’s World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, an event that calls on the Information Technology (IT) industry, governments and consumers to speak out about the importance of IP rights.

He also said that Resourcery Plc received the Intellectual Property Champ Nigeria award at a ceremony, which took place in Lagos.

“I am honoured to be recognised by Microsoft with this award. As a trusted advisor to our customers, we remain committed to recommending the of use genuine Microsoft software,” he said, adding that Resourcery Plc is a Microsoft Gold Partner.

The Anti-Piracy Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, Seye Oloruntoba, elucidated that the significance of the awards to its partners, was on based on the fact that “Microsoft works closely with our partners to ensure consumers receive the highest quality experience, best protection and most value for their money.”

Oloruntoba pointed out that this award recognises the tireless efforts of partners who are doing exemplary work in this area.

Meanwhile, ITRealms Online, recalled that this year’s World Intellectual Property Day which took place on Tuesday 26 April, saw the Geneva-based WIPO has been celebrating World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD) since 2000 and 26 April was the date when the Convention establishing WIPO originally came into force in 1970.

WIPO set up World IP Day to address the gap between people’s awareness of IP and its relevance to their lives.

This year, which is the 11th anniversary of World IP Day and the 41st anniversary of the WIPO convention and WIPO itself also witnessed the commemoration around the globe.

Remmy Nweke
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