A review of African official IP websites: no.3 Benin

 

The Olympic Games including its spectacular opening ceremony is obviously the talk of the town as we speak. For this little Leo, “Mr Bean” was outstanding with his trade mark performance with the London Symphony Orchestra at the ceremony. Afro Leo obviously kept an eye on the African countries as most of their athletes jubilantly marched out dressed in elegant attires. However, he isn’t sure why Benin didn’t put in much effort in their attire. Little Leo thinks he knows why: they were not happy that their intellectual property (IP) office still has no website as Afro IP discovered last year. In fact, the only functioning website – although not for its IP office - found last year, does not even exist and/or function any longer.

Benin was one of the countries implicated in this Leo’s opinion summary in which he argues that the two regional IP systems in Africa may be creating a nonchalant attitude amongst members in their respective countries. But before we think it is all bad for IP, Benin recently showed its interest by acceding to the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (also reported here on Afro IP). Although this may not mean much, it is a step in the right direction – at least from an outsider’s point of view.

Afro Leo wishes Benin well at the Olympics; and in return, would be happy to see the Ministry of Ministry of Industry and Commerce set up, at least, a basic website for its IP office.

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For Benin’s Olympic ceremony entrance see here 

According to this report, Benin’s flag bearer was sent packing in less than 5 minutes in Judo and was the first athlete to be eliminated from the event although this report says otherwise 

For a clip of Mr Bean at the ceremony see here 

For the Olympic ceremony theme see here

And finally, Jeremy Hunt enthusiastically reminds the government to table a Health and Safety Bill for town criers