Cash prizes for distinctive trademarks? OAPI urges IP offices to reward innovative use of brands

The African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) held its first annual Brand Awards recently, in which cash prizes and trademark filing vouchers were given to local brands judged to be distinctive. Talking to World Trademark Review, OAPI’s director of legal affairs and cooperation, Maurice Batanga, says that the initiative has proved effective – and encourages other IP offices to consider a similar approach to promote innovative use of trademarks.