The World Fellows

Intellectual Property Law Consultant

As an independent consultant on intellectual property law, Getachew Alemu lends his expertise to a wide range of countries and organizations, including Light Years IP and the World Intellectual Property Organization. In carrying out feasibility studies and needs assessments, he aims to increase and secure income for local farmers and producers using intellectual property business tools. Previously, Alemu directed the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office and was the driving force in developing Ethiopia’s intellectual property policies and procedures. His innovative approaches to using intellectual property rights to advance socioeconomic development in Ethiopia are recognized as having valuable applications across the African continent. While in office, he successfully negotiated with a number of US and European companies on the use of Ethiopia's coffee names, resulting in a license agreement with 17 US, Canadian, British, and Dutch specialty coffee companies, including Starbucks. He also developed the first intellectual property courses at Addis Ababa University Law School.

 

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