WIPOD – Arbitration and Mediation Matters: Transcript of Episode 13
Strengthening IP Dispute Resolution in Africa through the WIPO Co-Administration Program
Oscar Suárez
Welcome to another episode of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Matters podcast. My name is Oscar. Today, I am joined by a truly inspiring guest, Maureen Fondo, Head of Copyright and Related Rights at the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization, ARIPO. With over 16 years of experience in copyright and legal matters, Maureen has played a key role in shaping regional frameworks like the Kampala Protocol on the Voluntary Registration of Copyright and the ARIPO Model Law on copyright and related rights. She is a PhD candidate and a lecturer in intellectual property at Africa University in Zimbabwe, a former senior legal officer at the Copyright Society of Tanzania, and an advocate of the High Court of Tanzania.
Beyond policy, Maureen brings hands-on experience in dispute resolution, licensing, and negotiations. And she's also an artist, composer, and writer, which gives her a unique lens on copyright.
In today's episode, we'll explore her journey in IP and dive into the WIPO ADR Co-Administration Program, a groundbreaking effort to support IP offices around the world—and today mentioning the ARIPO member states—in developing their own ADR services for copyright and IP disputes.
Before we start, don't forget to subscribe if you're interested in knowing what is happening with IP and ADR around the world.
Without further ado, let's begin.
Maureen, welcome. It's such a pleasure to have you here with us today and to discuss all the projects that we have together with ARIPO and the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. First of all, how are you doing?
Maureen Fondo
Thank you very much, Oscar. I'm doing great, yes.
Oscar Suárez
Thank you, Maureen. Please do tell us what brought you into IP.
Maureen Fondo
Well, what drove me to IP is really interesting because I never knew that we live with IP. Everything around us is IP. And surprisingly, even during my university studies, we never had intellectual property as an elective. So I didn't learn IP while I was at the university.
But after graduation, I had this opportunity of lecturing business law, and it had components of IP. So I had to do a lot of research to understand and be able to share the modules on IP. Then, thank God, I got employed with the Copyright Society of Tanzania, heading the legal department, and IP was the norm.
Copyright was there, and I had to delve deeper into it and understand more. I remember we had a WIPO consultant, and when she came, she shared about the distance learning courses that WIPO Academy offers. I got really interested because this was an area I was curious about.
I wanted to learn more, and I did the DL-101. Since then, I never stopped doing the WIPO Academy courses. I did quite a lot and I’m still doing them. At that time, I even did the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation course.
This course really helped me a lot. Considering I was the head of the legal service unit, we had a lot of copyright cases. As the copyright office, we were registering works and members. So at one point or another, there would be issues among the members or third parties.
The ADR course I took really upskilled me—gave me insights on mediation, how I could do it efficiently and effectively. It really helped me carry out my duties in presiding over copyright cases.
Yes, yes. This really took me a long way, and I was even urging my colleagues to leverage WIPO Academy courses to understand these intellectual property issues. As we know, IP is very pivotal and it drives sustainable economic development.
Coming to ARIPO—it is, I can say, a privilege for me to be here. The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization is an intergovernmental organization. Currently, there are 22 member states, and we also have observer states that we hope will join as full ARIPO member states.
ARIPO has a mandate on intellectual property. We have different protocols that guide us in this mandate:
- The Harare Protocol for patents and utility models,
- The Banjul Protocol for trademarks,
- The Swakopmund Protocol for traditional knowledge,
- The Arusha Protocol for new plant varieties,
- And the Kampala Protocol for the voluntary registration of copyright and related rights.
These protocols give us our mandate. ARIPO, being established under the Lusaka Agreement, is tasked with harmonizing systems and pooling resources from member states to deliver effectively and efficiently, and to promote IP in Africa.
Oscar Suárez
Thank you for that explanation. I think it's very interesting to see that there's a recurring story of how lawyers realize—when we start studying law—that IP surrounds us and is a very international system.
Following what you were saying about your artistic side and being a creative, tell us a bit: what advice would you give people involved in the creative industries, especially young people starting out? They’re exposed to this digital environment, and cross-border disputes are very common nowadays. How can dispute resolution help them?
Maureen Fondo
Yes, indeed. I have the artistic side. I’m a creative. I like using my hands—crocheting, knitting, braiding, making clothes—in my spare time.
And I compose songs, mostly gospel. I even composed the World Intellectual Property Day song for the theme Stand Up for Music. It’s on YouTube. My pseudonym is The Anointed.
I'm also a member of the Copyright Society of Tanzania, as an artist. Now with technology, it’s very easy to be a content creator and distributor. You never know—when I post something, someone in another jurisdiction could take it and make it their own.
Maybe they think they’re just sharing information, not knowing rights have been infringed. So what do I do when my rights are infringed in another jurisdiction? Which court do I go to?
The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center offers one solution. It spans a broad environment across WIPO member states. With co-administration tools, we can work together. The services WIPO offers—mediation, arbitration, depending on what the parties agree on—are very helpful.
This ties into ARIPO’s Kampala Protocol on the voluntary registration of copyright. It urges member states to gain the skills and knowledge to resolve copyright disputes. When voluntary registration begins at the regional level—and it already has in some states—disputes may arise.
Article 14 and Rule 10 of the Kampala Protocol regulations clearly call for disputes to be resolved in good faith through ad hoc means. That brings us to ADR.
So with collaboration between WIPO and ARIPO, we can strengthen our member states’ capacity in this area.
Oscar Suárez
Thank you for that. Just to clarify: when we talk about co-administration, we're referring to the WIPO ADR Co-Administration Program for IP and copyright offices.
This program helps IP offices that already provide—or want to provide—ADR services. We offer technological tools developed in-house, capacity building, mediator training, awareness campaigns for users and rightsholders.
This allows users to resolve disputes within their jurisdictions. For example, we help offices make their services fully digital, lowering barriers to access.
Maureen, what is your view on this? Is it moving forward in the African region?
Maureen Fondo
Yes, of course, Oscar. I do see a growing uptake in ADR, especially in copyright offices.
At ARIPO, we’ve been working to sensitize our member states on the importance of ADR systems. Thanks to WIPO's collaboration, the good news is that member states have strengthened their ADR systems—in Tanzania, Botswana, Uganda, Namibia, Kenya, and our potential member Nigeria.
We see that with this collaboration, member states can effectively use the co-administration tools: tracking cases, using online platforms to manage disputes, filing cases electronically.
When parties are in different regions—even within a country—e-filing helps connect them. As copyright offices, our member states can resolve disputes amicably using WIPO’s platforms for co-administration.
Oscar Suárez
Thank you for that, Maureen. We've been speaking about general things, but now I’m curious about your personal and professional experiences. Could you share something that marked your career—a pivoting moment that's dear to your heart?
Maureen Fondo
Wow. I remember some years ago there was an advert for the Master's in Intellectual Property at Africa University. I was talking with my husband: should I apply? The costs were high.
But he encouraged me. I applied—and received sponsorship from WIPO. After finishing the program and returning to the Copyright Society of Tanzania, I got promoted.
I was assigned more responsibility, including contributing to amendments to the copyright law. The MIP program shaped me and set me apart. I started being invited to more meetings, giving my opinions on IP, sensitizing the Tanzanian community.
That program, along with my skills and expertise, helped bring me to ARIPO. I can never stop thanking those who invested in my growth and helped me become a better person to serve society.
Oscar Suárez
I really like that answer. Thank you for sharing it.
This leads into the final question I had for you today. First of all, thank you for your time. What advice would you give to young practitioners who are starting to work in IP—or ADR—or maybe just starting their professional journeys?
Maureen Fondo
Thank you, Oscar.
There’s a lot I could say, but let me mention a few things. First, empower yourself. That means building your technical skills—but also empowering those around you.
Young people need to understand how the IP ecosystem works and how to leverage it. Second, they should seek mentorship and coaching. Be curious, learn from experienced professionals.
Third, use technology wisely. Young people are incredibly fast with tech, so use databases to explore existing patents and innovations.
At ARIPO, we have the ARIPO Regional IP Database, POLite+, WIPO Patentscope, USPTO full-text database, China’s SIPO, Japan’s J-PlatPat, and others.
Use these tools—not just for patents, but utility models, brands, copyright. All of these can be combined to generate value.
Never stop learning. Build both soft and hard skills. Strategically think about how your ideas can reach the market. Always aim for impact—solutions that benefit people and bring positive change.
Be willing to learn, to be mentored, and to understand the true value of IP.
Oscar Suárez
This is a fantastic way to end the podcast. I think you’ve said it all.
Thank you so much, Maureen, for your time, for sharing your experience and your thoughts. It’s been a true pleasure to have you with us today.
Maureen Fondo
Thank you very much.