The Senate has adopted a draft law establishing the Congolese Industrial Property Office. With the establishment of the Industrial Property Office, the aim is to provide technical assistance to local economic operators, researchers and inventors preparing documents to...
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ARIPO AD HOC SUB-WORKING GROUP ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS HOLDS SECOND MEETING
On 26 and 27 July, the second meeting of the ARIPO ad hoc sub-working group on geographical indications (GIs) took place in Harare, Zimbabwe. The meeting was attended (in person) by the representatives of the sub-working group from Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi,...
TM NOT EQUAL TO HEALTH AUTHORITY AUTHORISATION – DISCLAIMER AGAINST CLASS 5 PHARMACEUTICAL REGISTRATION TO THIS EFFECT NOW COMPULSORY
In order to curb misuse of pharmaceutical trade mark registrations, the Angolan trade marks office (IAPI) has issued notice 9/2022 which states that, going forward, all registration certificates for pharmaceutical trade marks in class 5 shall now contain the following...
SOUTH AFRICA ESTABLISHING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INSTITUTE
The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies has announced that South Africa intends to launch Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg (“UJ”) and Tshwane University of Technology (“TUT”). UJ and TUT are...
MMA PROHIBITS THE USE OF CERTAIN WORDS AND EMBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2022 RUGBY WORLD CUP 7’S
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition has promulgated, in terms of Section 15A of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1941 as amended (“MMA”), the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7’s as a “protected event”. The event will be hosted in South Africa from the 9 -11 September 2022. As...
NIGERIA COPYRIGHT COMMISSION SIGNS MOU WITH FEDERAL AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF NIGERIA TO COMBAT PIRACY AT NATIONAL AIRPORTS
The Director-General of Nigeria Copyright Commission (“NCC “), announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (“FAAN”) which aims to curb the sale of goods which infringe copyright at the national...
ZAMBIA LAUNCHES ELECTRONIC TRADE MARK REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES FROM 1 SEPTEMBER 2022
Patents & Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) issued a public notice of 23 August 2022, announcing that effective from 1 September 2022, the Zambian Registry will only issue electronic trade mark registration certificates.
PLANS TO COLLABORATE WITH ECOMMERCE PLATFORMS TO FIGHT ONLINE COUNTERFEITING
In order to curb the rise of counterfeit goods offered for sale online in Kenya, the Kenyan Anti-Counterfeit Authority is proposing to partner with Kenya’s Digital Markets. A meeting was held between leading Kenyan Digital markets and the Kenyan Anti-Counterfeit...
UPDATE ON COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT BILL & PERFORMERS’ PROTECTION AMENDMENT BILL
Following, the adopting of 'D' version of the Copyright Amendment Bill on 8 June, as well as the 'D' version of the Performers' Protection Amendment Bill, the National Assembly, passed the bills on 31 August 2022. The bills have now been sent to the National Council...
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER APPOINTED AT THE KENYAN ANTI-COUNTERFEIT AUTHORITY
The Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Authority has announced the appointment of Dr. Mbugua Njoroge as the new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment took effect on 1 August 2022. Dr. Mbugua Njoroge succeeds Ms. Fridah Kaberia, who served as Executive...
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