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International Trademark Association CEO visits Africa to cement collaboration on trademarks and Intellectual Property rights systems

June 27, 2017

By Wallace Mawire The International Trademark Association (INTA) CEO, Mr. Etienne Sanz de Acedo who is visiting Africa and Zimbabwe in particular for the first time has convened meetings with key stakeholders especially in the Intellectual Property (IP)rights sector to cement collaboration and support trademarks and related rights systems with the continent. According to Susan Mwiti, Documentations and Communications Officer for the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) Acedo’s mission is to understand how to better serve and increase INTA membership in Africa as well as strengthen ties and cooperation with ARIPO, government departments, the Judiciary and academic institutions responsible for or who have a stake in the effective use of trademarks for development. INTA is the global association of trademark owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property in order to protect consumers and to promote fair and effective commerce. Recently, INTA has been paying more attention to Africa. INTA CEO, Mr. De Acedo, says his priorities are “to becoming truly global” and “engaging as many constituencies as possible.” INTA undertakes advocacy work throughout the world to advance trademarks and offers educational programs and informational and legal resources of global interest. At ARIPO, the CEO met with the agents, attorneys and brand owners based in Zimbabwe. Mr. Acedo, accompanied by the ARIPO Director General, Mr. Fernando dos Santos, is also expected to meet with the Zimbabwean Chief Justice, Justice Luke Malaba and Vice President, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. INTA has seven member organizations in Zimbabwe and in Africa 248 members from 37 countries. Globally, it has more than 7,000 organizations from 190 countries. INTA members collectively contribute almost $12 trillion to global GDP annually. For comparison, the 2015 annual GDP of the top three markets was $10.9 trillion (China), $16.2 trillion (European Union) and $17.9 trillion (United States). The Association's member organizations represent some 30,000 trademark professionals and include brand owners from major corporations as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises, law firms and nonprofits. There are also government agency members as well as individual professor and student members. The not-for-profit Association was founded in 1878 by 17 merchants and manufacturers who saw a need for an organization “to protect and promote the rights of trademark owners, to secure useful legislation and to give aid and encouragement to all efforts for the advancement and observance of trademark rights." The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) is an Inter-governmental organization (IGO). It was created under the Lusaka Agreement that was concluded and signed in Lusaka, Zambia on December 9 1976. Membership of the Organization is open to all African States members of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) or the African Union (AU).

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