ARIPO is an inter-governmental Organization that grants and administers Intellectual Property (IP) titles on behalf of its Member States and provides IP information to its clientele in search services, publications, and awareness creation. The objectives of ARIPO include the integration of IP in development programmes and policies, administration of IP (registration, exploitation, and enforcement), undertaking IP awareness initiatives, promoting capacity building and development of human resources in IP, and facilitating the dissemination of technological information and transfer of technology. ARIPO currently administers five (5) Protocols on behalf of its Member States: the Harare Protocol for the protection of patents and industrial designs, the Banjul Protocol on marks, the Swakopmund Protocol for the protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore, the Arusha Protocol for the protection of new varieties of plants, and the Kampala Protocol on voluntary registration of copyright and related rights.
