Mon to Fri 08h00 to 16h30 ( UTC +2)

Mon to Fri 08h00 to 16h30 ( UTC +2)

Search IP Protection Available Per Country

Seychelles

Seychelles Related Articles

Trademark

Seychelles is a member of the Paris Convention and the World Trade Organisation. The Industrial Property Act 7 of 2014 only came into effect on 1 March 2015 and the commentary given below is based on the information available at the time of writing.

Provision is made for the registration of trade marks for goods and services as well as for certification marks and collective marks.  Three-dimensional marks and well-known marks are also expressly protected.

Patents

Patent protection is available via a national filing or via registration of a UK granted patent in Seychelles.

Although it is possible in a PCT international application to designate Seychelles, the laws in Seychelles have not been amended to cater for the PCT. Accordingly, it is not clear whether enforceable rights will be obtained via PCT national phase filings in Seychelles.

Designs

A United Kingdom design extends automatically to the Seychelles.

Copyright

Seychelles is not a member of the Berne Convention.

The Act provides for the following works to be eligible for copyright protection:

  • literary works
  • musical works
  • artistic works
  • performances of literary or musical works
  • films
  • sound recordings

Copyright is also provided for works of Seychelles folklore. Special provisions apply to the copyright in Seychelles folklore.

Literary works are further defined to include:

  • books, novels, stories, poetic works
  • plays, mime, stage directions, film scenarios, broadcasting scripts
  • textbooks, treatises, histories, biographies, essays, articles
  • scientific works, tables and compilations of data
  • encyclopaedias, dictionaries
  • letters, reports, memoranda
  • lectures, addresses and sermons
  • computer programs.

 

Artistic works are further defined to include:

  • paintings, drawings, etchings, lithographs, woodcuts, collage, prints, engravings
  • maps, plans, diagrams, sketches or illustrations
  • works of sculpture
  • three-dimensional works relating to geography, topography, or science
  • photographs
  • works of architecture
  • works of artistic craftsmanship or applied art.

For literary, musical or artistic works to be eligible for copyright, sufficient effort has to be expended to make the work original, and the work must have been written down, recorded or otherwise reduced to material form.

Plant Breeders' Rights

Currently, no legislative provision for plant breeders’ rights or other sui generis protection for plants is available in Seychelles.

​View latest Advisory Insights Newsletter