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Strengthening Intellectual Property Frameworks in the Dominican Republic
By Guzmán Ariza, Attorneys at Law
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in collaboration with the Dominican Republic's National Intellectual Property Office (ONAPI), hosted the Second Subregional Meeting of the CATI-CARD Network in Santo Domingo. This event brought together over 30 representatives from national IP offices and universities across seven member countries: Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic.
The primary objective of the meeting was to finalize a harmonized Model Institutional Policy for Intellectual Property (IP) Management tailored for universities and research institutions in the region. This initiative, which commenced in Costa Rica in 2024, aims to provide a standardized framework to guide institutions in managing IP rights effectively. The policy is accompanied by a practical implementation guide and tools designed to assist institutions in adopting and adapting the framework to their specific contexts.
Discussions during the meeting focused on various aspects of IP management, including technology transfer, academic IP ownership, and the strategic role of Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISCs). WIPO's regional consultants facilitated interactive sessions that employed gamified workshops and real-life case studies to explore challenges and solutions related to institutional strategy design and IP policy implementation.
The CATI-CARD Network, established during the 2015 Ministerial Meeting on Intellectual Property, serves as a platform committed to advancing national innovation ecosystems through equitable access to technological information and strengthening capacities in knowledge management and transfer across the region.
This regional effort aligns with WIPO's broader mission to support the development of robust IP ecosystems that foster innovation and contribute to economic growth. By providing institutions with the tools and frameworks necessary to manage IP effectively, the initiative seeks to enhance the capacity of universities and research institutions in the CATI-CARD region to translate research and innovation into tangible societal benefits.
Guzmán Ariza, Attorneys at Law
Guzmán Ariza is a leading full-service law firm in the Dominican Republic, consistently ranked among the country’s top-tier firms by the most prominent global legal directories such as Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.
With ten strategically located offices across the nation's principal business and tourism hubs, we are uniquely positioned to support clients in seizing opportunities within the largest and fastest-growing economy in Central America and the Caribbean.
Our multilingual team is well-versed in advising international clients across a broad spectrum of practice areas. In the field of intellectual property, we offer robust counsel and representation in both commercial transactions and litigation. Our services cover trademark and trade name protection, copyright and patent registration and enforcement, as well as licensing, assignments, and the transfer of IP rights.
Guzmán Ariza is globally connected through active memberships in prominent international legal networks, enabling us to effectively support cross-border matters and multinational transactions.