IPR Act Implementation Workshop

The National IP Management Office (NIPMO) and the SARIMA hosted a workshop on 3 August 2011 that essentially coincided with the first anniversary of the promulgation of the IP Rights from Publicly Financed R&D Act that NIPMO is mandated to implement and enforce. The workshop focused on issues that are being experienced with the implementation of the Act and although the day tended to raise more questions than answers, it certainly provided enough fodder for the guidelines that NIPMO will produce. "Its great to see the consultative approach that NIPMO is taking in developing the guidelines," commented Dr Andrew Bailey, UCT's IP Manager. A host of issues came to light that led to considerable debate amongst the expert panel of IP attorneys who had been invited from various SA law firms and the other delegates.

The event also served to officially introduce Dr Jonathan Youngleson, Head of NIPMO and Dr Kerry Taylor, Director Regulatory and Compliance. The UCT IP team at RCIPS is busy preparing the various submissions to NIPMO that are now required in terms of the Act - these relate to the new UCT IP Policy, the full cost model that is used at the university and recent invention disclosures. Inventions made by UCT researchers and disclosed to RCIPS are routinely reported on to NIPMO.

Inventions should be disclosed to RCIPS within 90 days, using an Invention Disclosure Form which can be downloaded here. RCIPS assess the invention in terms of its patentability as well as its commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Where appropriate formal IP protection is taken out. Learn more about patenting on the IP tab of the RCIPS website.

NIMPO comprises three directorates: Regulatory and Compliance (Dr Kerry Taylor), Advisory and Support (Mavis Nyatha) and Operations and Special Projects (Nomkhosi Madwe). Their offices are located at the Innovation Hub in Pretoria and their website is currently under construction (www.nipmo.org.za)