Strengthening IP Adjudication: WIPO and Tanzanian Judiciary Collaborate on Judicial Training

On June 26 and 27, over 140 justices, judges, deputy registrars, and resident magistrates from the United Republic of Tanzania gathered in Dar es Salaam to attend a Judicial Colloquium on Trademarks, Copyright, and Case Management. This event, co-organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Judicial Institute and the Judiciary of Tanzania, marked a significant milestone in their collaborative efforts to strengthen the judicial handling of intellectual property (IP) cases.

The colloquium focused on timely topics in the adjudication of trademarks and copyright, as well as explored case management techniques and procedural aspects necessary for effectively handling IP cases. It provided an invaluable platform for judicial officers to deepen their understanding and exchange insights on these specialized areas of law.

The event was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of Tanzania, Hon. Prof. Ibrahim Hamis Juma, who emphasized the increasing relevance of IP in the judicial system. "The judiciary has witnessed a notable increase in IP-related disputes, reflecting the growing awareness and utilization of IP rights. This trend underscores the need for judges, magistrates, and a judicial system that can respond swiftly and fairly to IP infringement cases," he remarked.

The Collaboration Over the Years

WIPO began its collaboration with the Judiciary of Tanzania in 2018 when Honorable High Court Deputy Registrar Ms. Upendo Ngitiri participated in the WIPO-PRV-Sida training program for Least Developed Countries. As part of this program, she developed a project to build the capacity of judges in IP adjudication. Since then, the partnership has evolved by formalizing the collaboration with a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021 to develop a comprehensive judicial support program. This includes:

• Continued access to the WIPO General Distance Learning Course on IP for Judges offered by the WIPO Academy, which has already benefited over 200 members of the Tanzanian judiciary and is in the process of being translated into Swahili.
• The partnership has also produced customized training materials in IP, developed with the support of Honorable Justice Dr. Paul Kihwelo from the Court of Appeal and Honorable High Court Deputy Registrar Ms. Upendo Ngitiri. These materials, along with a selection of leading IP judgments available in WIPO Lex-Judgments, serve as essential tools for judicial education. An IP benchbook to support Tanzanian judges is currently in development as part of the WIPO IP Benchbook series.
• Additionally, the collaboration has enhanced case management and mediation processes. Through the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, over 25 online mediation cases have been successfully hosted, involving parties from various regions of the United Republic of Tanzania and beyond. These efforts have received positive feedback for improving case management and participant engagement.
• Judicial officers have also benefited from previous training events such as the Judicial Colloquium on Trademarks, Copyright, and Mediation of IP Disputes.

The ongoing collaboration reflects a shared commitment to equipping the Tanzanian judiciary with the knowledge and tools necessary to adjudicate IP disputes effectively, ensuring a robust legal framework for IP rights in the United Republic of Tanzania. WIPO is pleased to witness the level of engagement demonstrated by the Judiciary of Tanzania. 

This recent colloquium marks another step forward in this growing partnership, reinforcing the importance of enhancing the administration of IP justice to enable innovation and creativity to flourish.

About the WIPO Judicial Institute and Capacity Building for Judges

The WIPO Judicial Institute collaborates with member States to empower their judiciaries to fulfill their role in ensuring that IP, innovation and creative ecosystems are balanced and effective. As part of this work, WIPO offers a holistic suite of capacity building activities that contribute to building Continuing Judicial Education (CJE) on IP.

CJE programs are designed to enhance the capacity of the member State judicial authorities to deliver self-sustaining education programs on IP. The goal is for judges to develop their capacity and skills to adjudicate IP disputes efficiently and in accordance with national strategies and priorities. Ultimately, the program will enable new judges to gain an initial understanding of the complex field of IP and allow experienced judges to learn about new IP statutes and developments.

To learn more about this support contact the WIPO Judicial Institute at judicial.institute@wipo.int