Author Archives: admin.adams

Police in Limpopo have made a significant impact on the illegal trade of counterfeit goods, seizing items worth R5 million (approximately $271 723) in Musina. The operation, conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies, targeted counterfeit goods and over 2000 counterfeit items including sneakers, cell phones, perfumes and consumables were seized. Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk emphasised […]

The Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry has issued the Second International Symposium on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement (ISIPPE-2) report which aims to reinforce Kenya’s commitment to combat counterfeiting and protecting intellectual property (IP) rights. The report provides awareness and advice on best practices to strengthen IP protection and enforcement including the development of […]

The Libya Trade Mark Office has issued Ministerial Decision No. 2 of 2025 which provides that all acceptance notices issued during the closure of the Trademark Office (from 2 April 2024 to 1 September 2024) will be withdrawn. In addition, all appeals of trade mark applications that were refused based on being identical or confusingly […]

On 27 November 2024, the Libya Trade Mark Office issued Decree 586 of 2024 introducing updates for the renewal of trade marks.  Upon the renewal of trade marks, proprietors are now required to submit a valuation and financial statement of their trade marks and will be subjected to increased official and renewal fees.

On December 5, 2024, Malawi ratified the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Associated Traditional Knowledge (“Treaty”) which was adopted in May 2024. The Treaty, which addresses the connection between IP, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge, requires applicants to disclose the country of origin or source of genetic resources used in inventions. It […]

On 2 December 2024, the Patents and Designs Registry announced that its filing platform would be temporarily unavailable due to ongoing data updates. During this time, users could not access the platform for services. Once the updates were completed, applicants could request backdating of their applications to reflect priority dates. The Registry apologised for the […]

Between July and December 2024, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) stepped up efforts to combat counterfeit products, seizing and destroying goods worth N120 billion (approximately $80 060 312) across the country. The operation uncovered large-scale counterfeiting operations and targeted a variety of counterfeit items including medicines, food, and drinks, with significant […]

On 24 January 2025, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) welcomed new students to its prestigious master’s degree in Intellectual Property offered at the University of Yaoundé II and the Denis Ekani Academy of Intellectual Property (APIDE). Students previously enrolled in the programme received online lectures from experts of the European Union Intellectual Property Office […]

From 1 February 2025, the Rwanda Registry will only accept Power of Attorneys that strictly comply with the template outlined in Ministerial Order No. 26, dated 17 March 2016. To be compliant, the Power of Attorney must include the name of the authorised agent in Rwanda, their principal place of business, the date of expiry […]

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) plans to deregister approximately 800,000 non-compliant companies. This initiative aims to address inactive entities and enforce compliance with annual return and beneficial ownership requirements. Companies that fail to submit annual returns for two consecutive cycles or disclose beneficial ownership information will face deregistration. This action is part of […]