CIPC Annual Report V1

trainer participant group will commence with the formal programme by first completing the WIPO DL101 course. Swiss-SA IP project The Swiss-SA IP project, which commenced in Quarter 4 provides for a good opportunity to benefit from the agreement that South Africa has concluded with the Swiss government, focused on IP. In Quarter 4, the project team commenced engagements by clarifying and understanding the various projects that are currently in place in the CIPC. Quarterly stakeholder meeting Quarterly stakeholder engagements took place with SAIIPL and other IP law firms meeting in February 2021. Inventors Assistance Programme (IAP) Implementation of the IAP continued in this quarter. The IAP Review Committee meeting was held on 17 March 2021. Six applications were received and reviewed by the committee. Review by the patent examiners entails preliminary searches to ascertain novelty and inventiveness of the applications. Based on the findings, no applications were recommended to patent attorneys on WIPO’s IAP database. Substantive Search Examination (SSE) Deputy Heads of IP (CIPC and EPO) held a progress virtual meeting on 28 January on the Re-enforced Partnership Agreement. Training of the examiners and interns continues with EPO through a competency-based assessment programmes focusing on six modules. Additional training opportunity for patent examiners is planned for between the Swiss IP Office and CIPC. A Steering Committee meeting were held in the quarter for project planning. IP Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) formation The major thrust of the IP BRICS formation is centred on capacity building, education, and awareness. BRICS partners collaborate on several projects that are aligned to the overall objective of the BRICS development programme. In Quarter 3, the following events were held in which all BRICS partners participated and shared collective input: • Roundtable discussion on designs - 20 October 2020. • ·24 th International Conference of Rospatent – 20 to 21 October 2020. • Examiners training – 27 to 29 October 2020. • 2020 China-Africa Online Training on Intellectual Property - November to December 2020.

the SAPS officials to ensure clearing of any counterfeit goods in the streets around the Sandton Convention Centre. • Participating and presenting at various local and international events assisted to raise the level of awareness on the value and respect for IPR. One of these webinars highlighted the importance of government’s crisis policy and its impact on illicit and counterfeit trade in specific alcohol products. The lessons South Africa learned in the pandemic were shared. • 11 IP enforcement education and awareness sessions were conducted by the CIPC, including a hybrid session, both physical and virtual with 25 officials representing SARS, SAPS, and Interpol. Participants positively commented on the value of the training. 28 relevant depot managers and other IP stakeholders attended virtually. Their responsibilities as prescribed by the Counterfeit Goods Act (1997) were discussed. Expectations were also voiced and clear guidelines will be developed. Dealing with confiscated goods due for destruction was also part of the agenda. • A targeted sessions to the CIPC’s call centre and SCC staff to raise the level of interest and understanding of IPR was held, starting with the understanding of the IP domains in general and patents in particular. Other programme activities IP for SMMEs Within the broader objective of capacitating SMMEs in the effective use IP, webinars continued to be hosted in this quarter per the approved implementation plan. Based on the “train-the-trainer” model, a group of over 20 persons has been identified who will be trained as trainers. The objective is to create a critical mass of persons who will continued the capacity building initiatives at district levels without placing too much dependence on the CIPC’s capacity. At this stage, a formal programme for the trainers is under development. Other interventions include the development of the IP for SMME portal – to be hosted on the CIPC webpage. The SMME sector experienced further challenges since the start of the lockdown. However, the IP SMME project continued to deliver on its targets in ensuring the services to SMMEs remain unhindered. Capacity development programme continued with a dedicated information session held to a selected group of trainers following the “train-the trainer” model. This select group will, after accreditation by the CIPC and WIPO, serve as trainers at district level to inform education and raise IP awareness to SMMEs. The select

COMPANIES AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMMISSION I Annual Report 2020/21

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