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Ranking (trademark) innovation in Africa

The 2020 Global Innovation Index (GII) was released in September. The study was authored by WIPO, Cornell University and INSEAD and focused on innovation financing, against the backdrop of the economic impact of the covid-19 pandemic. This article focuses on how African countries performed, using trademark-related information as an indicator. Africa at a glance The most innovative...

November 10, 2020

João Francisco Sá

Opinion China Trademark Internationalisation Patent Internationalisation Trademark Africa Asia Industrial Property

Essential steps for Chinese companies filing trademark applications in Africa

Chinese companies began investing in Africa in the last century, mainly via direct investment. In 2013 President Xi Jinping proposed China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in order to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via the continental belt and maritime road across 65 countries. Its aim is to improve regional integration, increase trade and stimulate economic growth. The initiati...

November 4, 2020

Crystal Zhang

Opinion Algeria Trademark Africa Industrial Property

Proof of use in Algeria

The Algerian Trademark Law 03-06 (2003) states that a trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the application’s filing date and may be renewed for 10-year periods after this. In 2015 the Algerian Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) implemented new rules on renewing trademark registrations, which stated that renewals should be accompanied by proof of use and delivered in the year p...

October 29, 2020

Inês Tavares

Opinion Angola Brazil Mozambique Portugal Patent Utility Model Europe America Africa

How can Utility Models provide protection to subjects with smaller levels of “inventiveness”?

Vítor Sérgio Moreira, Patent Engineer at Inventa International, provide a case study on utility models in Angola, Brazil, Mozambique and Portugal. Several countries allow protection of subject matters by means of Utility Models, which are generally considered as inventions having a smaller level of inventiveness. Usually, the utility models are examined by the Patent Offices acco...

October 28, 2020

Vítor Sérgio Moreira

Opinion OAPI Trademark Application Patent Trademark Africa

Amendments to OAPI system will shake up the entire registration process

The African Organisation for Intellectual Property (OAPI) IP system is ruled by the Bangui Agreement, which was amended in 2019. This has resulted in changes to the IP system for French-speaking countries in Africa. The main alterations are to the prosecution and litigation procedures with regard to trademarks, patents and administration. The amendments will come into force after it has been ra...

October 20, 2020

Joana Teixeira

Opinion Morocco Web Hosting Trademark Africa

Is Western Sahara a no-go for trademark protection?

Western Sahara is an Atlantic-coastal desert area of 266,000km2, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania. A former Spanish colony, it has been on the the United Nations (UN) list of non-self-governing territories since 1965 along with 17 other territories. ‘Non-self-governing territories’ are defined as "territories whose people have not yet attaine...

October 13, 2020

Vera Albino

Press Release

Inventa International strengthens the team with two new members

Inventa International recently reinforced its team with the entry of Marisol Cardoso, as Patent Consultant, and Helga Mota, for the role of Paralegal. With the hiring of Marisol Cardoso, Inventa International intends to reinforce the consultancy specialized in patent protection to its clients. Marisol has a solid career in Intellectual Property, worked for more than a decade as a Technical Pate...

October 7, 2020

Opinion ARIPO OAPI European Union Trademark EUIPO Africa

EUIPO launch of AfrIPI aims to shake up trademark registration in Africa

AfrIPI is the EUIPO’s first IP-focused project that collaborates with African jurisdictions. Expected to last four years, it was launched in February 2020 and the Project Steering Committee’s inaugural meeting was on 7 September 2020. In addition to the European Commission and the EUIPO, the other project partners are the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO),...

October 7, 2020

Júlia Alves Coutinho

Announcement Sao Tome and Principe ARIPO Plant Variety Protection Africa

The Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe become party to the Arusha Protocol

The Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe deposited its Instrument of Ratification of the Arusha Protocol on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of July 6, 2015, with the Director General of ARIPO on September 29, 2020. The Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe is the second ARIPO Member State to become party to the Protocol, after Rwanda taking the lead...

October 2, 2020

Announcement European Union Patent Industrial Design Trademark Europe Africa Asia Industrial Property

Important IP Updates Covid-19 | 01.10.2020

Update depending on the information provided. Covers the jurisdictions where Inventa International operates. Africa Algeria - National Institute of Industrial Property is open but with limited service hours. More info. Angola - The Angolan Patent and Trademark Office announced the resumption of its activities since April, 27, although with some operating restrictions. M...

October 1, 2020

Opinion OAPI Trademark Application Trademark Internationalisation Trademark Africa

A guide to OAPI: what you need to know

The African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) handles trademark registrations for the following – mainly francophone – member states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Comoro Islands, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Unlike the African R...

September 29, 2020

Inês Tavares

Announcement Mauritius ARIPO Africa

The Republic of Mauritius joins the Lusaka Agreement

The Republic of Mauritius deposited its Instrument of Accession to the Lusaka Agreement of December 9, 1976, establishing the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) with the Director General of ARIPO on September 25, 2020. Under Article XVI (3) of the Lusaka Agreement, the Republic of Mauritius is now a member of ARIPO as of this 25th September 2020. The accession of The...

September 28, 2020

Jurisdiction