WIPO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• Broad range of government departments responsible for IP policy formulation

and administration

• Hence IMCIP established in 2016 – Chaired by Department of Trade and

Industry (the dti)

SA IP Institutions

IMCIP

Trade

&

Industry

Economic Development

Communications

Science &

Technology

Health

International Relations & Cooperation

Energy

Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries

Higher Education & Training

Telecommunications & Postal Services

Arts & Culture

Environmental

Affairs

Approach to Technical assistance

Cannot exist in the absence of capacity development

This is reflected in the TA initiatives undertaken by the main entities

concerned – namely, the dti and CIPC as well as DST and NIPMO

Introduction to CIPC

Deputy Commissioner

COMMISSIONER

Business Regulation &

ReputationIntellectual Property:

Innovation & Creativity

Companies Innovation Support & Protection:

Patents

Designs

Creative Industries:

Copyright

IKS

IP enforcement

Cooperatives

Innovation Policy & Outreach Examiners: 16

13

Trademarks

68

CIPC views collaboration as important in advancing its strategic objectives

Locally, CIPC has entered into strategic collaboration agreements with the

National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) on Summer

school, WIPO-TISC (Technology & Innovation Support Centers) and other

such projects

Internationally, CIPC collaborates with WIPO on a number of capacity

building initiatives . Other partners include BRICS, EPO,JPO, and other IPO

Strategic Collaborative Efforts

Technical training provided to Patent examiners in-training and the

Administration team at CIPC:

Patent Examiners Workshop on Patent Cooperation Treaty,

Pretoria - South Africa(1-3 March 2016);

Patent Examiners Workshop on Patent Information & Prior Art

Search Methodologies, Pretoria - South Africa (14-18 March

2016);

CIPC Staff workshop on Patent Cooperation Treaty Filing

Procedure conducted by WIPO in Pretoria, South Africa (22nd

March 2016).

Technical assistance on the Substantive

Search and Examination (SSE) of Patents

Project on IP for SMMEs in

South Africa

Objectives of the project:

i) To enhance the awareness and understanding of SMMEs on

the effective use and management of intellectual property (IP).

ii) To strengthen the capacity of policy makers and SMME

associations and support institutions to foster innovation and

management of IP asset amongst SMMEs

The project was launched in November 2016, in Pretoria in

collaboration with WIPO, Government Departments,

Project piloted through the Small Enterprise Development

Agency network.

WIPO-CIPC-SBD IP for SMME Project

- 2 year project launched in November 2016

- Effective IP Asset Management by SMMEs

- Collaborative effort: WIPO-CIPC- SBD

Project Deliverables

1. SMMEs focused Report: Report on the establishment of a

practical IP support/framework for SMMEs has been developed

2. Provide IP related technical support to Government initiatives aimed at assisting SMMEs

3. Support and advise on introduction/improvement of institutional IP policies that will facilitate cooperation between SMMEs and Technology and research institutions, Universities etc.

4. Creation of an IP and SMEs tool-kit to be used by SMMEs Associations and other SMMEs support institution

5. Focused Outreach and Awareness creation events/activities

Industrial Property Automation

System (IPAS)

In 2016, CIPC and WIPO signed an Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) to test/evaluate the technical

functionality of IPAS & its ability to support the requirements of

the office.

In June 2018, CIPC and WIPO developed the initial business

rules and workflows of the patent administration within CIPC.

WIPO has completed the migration of the patent data onto the

IPAS platform.

A test and demonstration of the work done to date is

scheduled for 12 November 2018.

Inventor Assistance Program (IAP)

→ A program aimed at assisting financially under resourced

inventors to file patent applications, with the assistance of

patent attorneys who work on a pro bono basis.

→ The program was launched in South Africa in 2017.

→ A steering committee has been formed including various

stakeholder in government (CIPC, dti, NIPMO, TIA, SEDA and

SEFA).

→ Applications for the Inventor Assistance Program are open.

Criteria for the IAP

The applicant can demonstrate a basic knowledge of the patent

system by either:

By successfully completing the online IAP training module

By presenting proof of a current patent application that has

been filed at the South African Patent Office or any other

patent office.

The applicant is an individual or SME that is either:

A person earning less than R 30 000 per month after tax, or

An enterprise with an annual turnover of less than R5 million.

Criteria for the IAP

The invention concerned:

On face value meets, the criteria for patentability.

Has prospects for commercial success.

CIPC has created a dedicated email address for the IAP

iapsa@cipc.co.za.

The application will be assessed by the screening committee,

which will in turn give recommendations to WIPO concerning

the application.

If applicant is successful; WIPO will then pair the inventor with

a Pro bono Attorney.

IPR Enforcement Training

Workshops CIPC launched the South African Training Manual in August 2016

Due to increased demand for training, additional sessions took

place and WIPO’s support through participation was solicited.

Workshops with the support of WIPO were held in Cape Town,

Durban and Nelspruit, covering all the major economic cities and

harbour towns.

Part of the winning recipe was highlighted to be the cooperation

between investigators and prosecutors, as the crucial element of

successful criminal prosecution.

IPR Enforcement Training

ManualThe South African Training Manual on Investigating and Prosecuting

IP Crime (the South African Training Manual) is a joint effort of the

Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and WIPO.

The booklet is an adapted version of the training materials Hon.

Justice Louis Harms wrote for WIPO in 2015. The importance of

effective training materials and joint training sessions is therefore a

cornerstone of promoting respect for IPRs on all levels in South

Africa.

Delegates at Training Workshop

International Conference Respect for

IP Growing from the Tip of Africa

The International Conference “Respect for IP Growing from the Tip of Africa” was hosted on 24 and 25 October and started

off with a Gala dinner on the 23th. The panel discussions were very interesting and valuable.

The Conference was the first of its kind and a global intellectual property (IP) event that was intended to foster dialogue on

building respect for IP with the ambitious goal of supporting a balanced IP enforcement system through international

cooperation.

Participants from all over the world attended, they included government ministers, policymakers, judges, senior enforcement

officials, businesses, the legal fraternity, consumer groups and more.

Respect for IP – Growing from the Tip of Africa was the result of joint efforts by the Companies and Intellectual Property

Commission (CIPC), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), INTERPOL, the World Customs

Organization (WCO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Some other initiatives

WIPO-South Africa Summer School On Intellectual

Property And Transfer Of Technology - 27-Nov-2017

WIPO National Patent Drafting Workshop -13-Nov-2017

WIPO/CIPC Workshop On The South African IP Training

Manual On Investigation And Prosecution Of IP Crime For

Senior Law Enforcement - 30-Oct-2017

Consultative Workshop on The Draft IP Policy - 25-Oct-

2017

LESSONS LEARNT

Clearly define your need, target groups etc.

Identify collaborative partners and experts for

training

Customise material

Holistic approach: each institution has a clearly

defined role, cooperation becomes easy and

implementation effective