Govt unbundles Department of Deeds

GOVERNMENT has unbundled the Department of Deeds as part of the restructuring of the administration of intellectual property in the country by creating the Companies and Intellectual Property Zimbabwe (CIPZ), a semi-autonomous entity.

The decision, which was taken by Cabinet last month, will streamline the process of registration of intellectual property (IP) and stimulate creativity and economic growth as well as promote innovation, including access to relevant databases for research purposes.

CIPZ is administered by the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

This was revealed by the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi on Thursday during the official opening of the 18th Session of African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (Aripo) Council of Ministers in Victoria Falls by President Mnangagwa.

"Cabinet took a decision in November this year to restructure the administration of the intellectual property in the country by creating the Companies and Intellectual Property Zimbabwe, which is an autonomous entity devoted to dealing with administration and management of companies and intellectual property management," he said.

"The implementation and restructuring of IP management and administration is already underway as directed by President. The CIPZ is expected to streamline the process of registration of IP and use it to stimulate creativity and economic growth in general."

Minister Ziyambi said economic growth and development is critical and urged all sectors of the economy play their part.

"The world of commerce is increasingly dominated by knowledge and skills and the power of information is anchored on intellectual property. It is important that we develop policies and institutions that promote creativity and innovation. Zimbabwe prioritises intellectual property as a tool for development and growth," he said.

"As Government we believe that IP should influence and promote investment and employment hence the move by Cabinet to establish a semi-autonomous IP office in a bid to strengthen and enhance its effectiveness."

Minister Ziyambi said Aripo is a strategic partner and reaffirmed Government's commitment to supporting and promoting the voluntary organisation's interests.

In 2018, Government launched the Zimbabwe National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (2018-2022) to spur innovation and creativity in several sectors of the economy. IP is a key driver of economic success and its protection is essential for innovation.

Prior to the latest development, CIPZ was a section of the Department of Deeds and Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The Department was established in 1897 as the Deeds Office with a secondary function as an intellectual property registry.

The main functions of CIPZ are the registration and administration of proprietary rights of companies and intellectual property in Zimbabwe, promotion of formalization of business entities access to IP databases by researchers for knowledge and technological advancement.

It facilitates international co-operation and multilateral normative processes and is the focal point for all companies IP issues.

CIPZ also carries out advocacy and public awareness activities Zimbabwe is a party to various international treaties governing intellectual property and it is one of the functions of CIPZ to represent Zimbabwe in the international arena on intellectual property matters and to ensure that Zimbabwe meets its administrative obligations under the treaties.

Zimbabwe is, among others, a member of the Aripo and a party to the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs and the Banjul Protocol on Marks; it is a party to the Madrid Protocol, and CIPZ acts as an office of origin for individuals from Zimbabwe wishing to obtain international registrations through the Madrid system; and, it is also a contracting party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and CIPZ acts as a receiving office under the PCT.