Masterclass in Morocco: How the IAP Upskills its Experts

Until recently, few Moroccan inventors had access to patent experts. As a result, nearly half of the individuals who applied for patents with the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC) found their applications rejected, often based only on the formalities. The team at OMPIC believed these inventors deserved a chance to have their ideas evaluated on the merits. They partnered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to launch the Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) to help local inventors get expert advice to navigate the patent system.

Patent experts serve as the soul of the IAP. They donate their time and intellect to help under-resourced inventors in their country, from drafting a patent application to corresponding with OMPIC. Volunteer Mohammed El Harzli describes how the experience has been gratifying for him, both “because of the exchanges that take place with the inventor” and as “an action to make our solidarity with our fellow citizens.”

Since the program’s inception, IAP volunteers helped more than 70 innovators in Colombia, Ecuador, Morocco, the Philippines, and South Africa. Each participating country customized the program to match their own innovation ecosystem. In the case of Morocco, OMPIC saw the Inventor Assistance Program as an opportunity to engage and upskill a passionate group of expert inventors to help the country innovators.

More info:

https://www.wipo.int/iap/en/news/2020/news_0002.html

Extra internal link:https://www.ifia.com/inventor-assistance-program/