US, WIPO IP Summit In Africa Postponed

A training programme on intellectual property organised by the United States with several partners to be held in Africa in April has been postponed under pressure to make the programme more transparent and representative of all stakeholders.

The organising office, the Commercial Law Development Program of the Office of the General Counsel at the US Department of Commerce, has posted this statement to its website:

“The African Intellectual Property Forum, originally slated for April 3-5, 2012 in Cape Town, will be rescheduled. Organizers are committed to ensuring that all stakeholders – in government, private business, the arts and the development community – are represented and engaged in the conference organization and agenda.”

The preliminary agenda for the event had looked lopsided toward developed country interests and led to criticism from around the world (IPW, US Policy, 12 February 2012).

Cosponsors included the World Intellectual Property Organization, France and Japan.