Zambia
Increase in statutory fee unit resulting in increased official fees
Statutory Instrument No. 25 of 2024 enacted the Fees and Fines (Fee and Penalty Unit Value) (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 on 15 April 2024. In terms of the new Regulations, the statutory unit fee has been revised from 30 Ngwee [K0.30] to 40 Ngwee [K0.40]. The increase in the statutory unit fee has led to an […]
June 18, 2024|
The Registry updates their NICE classification system to the 12th edition
In January 2024, the Zambia Trade Mark Registry issued a notice regarding the update of the NICE classification system from the 11th edition to the 12th edition. Although the notice did not specify the implementation year, further inquiry with the Registry confirmed they are now using the 12th edition, version 2024. Source: Christopher, Russell Cook […]
April 12, 2024|
Zambia passes new Trade Marks Act (Act No. 11 of 2023)
A new Trade Marks Act has been passed in Zambia! This signals a significant modernization effort, introducing provisions for “non-traditional” marks, multiclass applications, and alignment with international frameworks such as the Madrid Protocol. Zambia passes new Trade Marks Act (Act No. 11 of 2023) As the Zambian economy continues to grow, the country has supplanted […]
February 8, 2024|
The New Landscape of Trade Mark Laws In Zambia
Last year, Zambia passed the Trade Marks Bill 2023 in an effort to revise its archaic trade mark legislation prescribed by the Trade Marks Act (Chapter 401) 1958 (“the Old Act”). The Old Act has been in force for more than six decades. The Old Act did not provide for the registration of service marks […]
January 19, 2024
Adams & Adams visits Zambia
On 10 November 2023, Adams & Adams Partner and Chairperson of the Africa Strategy Committee, Mr Simon Brown and the Africa Practice Manager, Mr Menzi Maboyi, travelled to Lusaka, Zambia to meet with the newly appointed Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) and his team. Our team was […]
December 14, 2023|
ZAMBIA – Appointment of Registrar CEO – Board of Patents and Companies Registration Agency
With effect of 1st August 2023, Mr. Benson Mpalo was appointed as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (“PACRA”) in Zambia. Mr. Mpalo joins PACRA as a legal practitioner and Advocate of the Superior Courts of Zambia with excess of fifteen (15) years of experience […]
September 14, 2023|
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.
September 14, 2022|
Zambia trade mark bill open to comment
The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry recently requested stakeholder comments on the draft 2022 Zambian Trade Marks Bill. The Bill proposes a number of significant amendments, including provision for service marks, multi-class applications, and an amendment of the registration and renewal terms to 10-year periods. The Bill also expressly recognises collective marks and geographical […]
August 18, 2022|
Zambia makes trade mark data available online
The Patents and Companies Registration Agency of Zambia (PACRA) has made its trade mark data of more than 60 000 trade marks available online on the TMview search tool from 13 June 2022. TMview now contains data from 77 participating offices and provides information and access to more than 106,5 million trade marks. TMview was […]
July 13, 2022|
Africa Update 2020 – Zambia
The enforceability of International Registrations in Zambia- Trade Marks Rights Not Getting ‘Beta’? In a recent decision of the Registrar of Trade Marks in Zambia in the matter of Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite (“the Opponent”) and Amina Limited (“the Applicant”), the Registrar held that international registrations (“IRs”) under the Madrid Protocol designating Zambia are valid […]
November 11, 2020|
Bad Faith Recognised as a Ground of Opposition
In a recent decision by the Registrar of Trade Marks in Zambia, it was confirmed that “bad faith” can be relied upon as a ground of opposition against a trade mark application. The matter related to an opposition by Anhui Liangliang Electronic Technology Co Limited (“the Opponent”) against an application to register the mark TORCH […]
August 16, 2020|
Zambia | Notice regarding Property Transfer Tax for Intellectual Property
On 25 December 2018, the Zambian Industrial Property Office issued a legal notice regarding the application of the Property Transfer Tax (Amendment) Act, 2017 on trade marks, patents and Industrial designs. The Amendment Act amends certain provisions of the Property Transfer Tax Act, Chapter 340 (Principal Act). The definition of “property” has been amended to […]
March 12, 2019|