Legal and institutional framework for harmonization of intellectual property protection in the African region

African states have taken actions aiming at harmonization and improvement of legal protection of intellectual property by establishing two intergovernmental organizations - the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). While in the scope of OAPI steps aiming at creation of the regional patent office as well as harmonization of legal protection of intellectual property of the member states have been taken, current activity of ARIPO is limited mainly to simplification of procedural issues concerning registration of some categories of industrial property. Despite facilitations offered by both organizations in this respect, many countries in African region did not join them, and only half of the members of ARIPO decided to use possibilities with reference to simplification of the procedure of trademark registration. Moreover, the lack of guarantee for effective execution of standards set by both above-mentioned organizations and settling potential disputes concerning fulfillment of obligations imposed on them by these organizations should also be judged critically.