Prosecution

Angela Adebayo, Regional Director of Inventa Nigeria, was one of the key speakers at the SME100 Africa International Women's Day Conference held in Lagos, Nigeria on the 29th of March.

Inventa has been recognized as a 'Firm To Watch: Intellectual Property' in The Legal 500 EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) 2024 edition.

As stated by The Legal 500, Inventa brings together trademark and patent attorneys, engineers, and consultants, providing comprehensive expertise in IP prosecution, enforcement, and protection of IP rights. Vítor Palmela Fidalgo, Legal Director of Inventa, is highlighted as a key figure for both contentious and non-contentious IP matters.

In the heart of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is not only known for its breathtaking landscapes but is also emerging as a hub for innovation within its dynamic manufacturing sector. With a keen focus on fostering a culture of innovation, the Mauritian government has taken significant steps to put the nation at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies and processes. It is in this context that various government initiatives and programs have been set up to encourage research and development, taking advantage of the favorable geographical location.

It is well known that patents can be granted for inventions (products, processes or methods and practical applications or uses) that are novel, inventive, and provided with industrial applicability.

However, in Europe, as in many other jurisdictions, certain types of inventions are not considered patentable. To this end, the European Patent Convention (EPC) sets forth the patentability criteria and Article 53 outlines its exceptions, that include:

The European Patent Office (EPO) has introduced additional fee reductions for the filing of European patents by applicants classified as Micro-entities. This includes Microenterprises, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Universities, Non-Profit Organisations, Public Research Organisations, and Natural Persons. The new set of reductions in official fees will come into effect from April 1, 2024.

An article on December 29, 2023, in the Daily News reported that Tanzania has gained international recognition for its efforts to bolster its capacity to administer justice and handle disputes in the realm of IP.

The Director of the Libyan Trademarks Office has issued an official decision, marked as No. 335 of 2024, aimed at streamlining trademark regulations in the country.

This significant decision mandates the cancellation of all published trademarks that have not been renewed within the legal renewal deadlines as delineated in Article 1257 of the Commercial Activity Law No. 23 of 2010. This article outlines the following vital provisions concerning trademark protection:

The AIPPI Spring Meeting was held in Madrid, Spain, from February 22 to 23. Tiago Reis Nobre and Vítor Palmela Fidalgo attended the 2024 edition in Meliá Madrid Princesa Hotel, which featured a variety of panel sessions on relevant topics proposed by the Standing Committees.

The Mozambican Industrial Property Institute (IPI) has recently announced updates to its official fees, reflecting changes in the landscape of IP protection. These changes, effective from February 28, 2024, cover various services including registration, renewal, alterations, transmissions, and legal procedures such as oppositions and responses to provisional refusals.

Upon analyzing the fee evolution, significant changes are evident:

On 14 February 2024, the Libyan Ministry of Economy and Trade announced important changes to the trademark registration procedures, which will be enforced starting 1 May 2024. The new regulations include the following key points:

• Powers of Attorney (POA) used for trademark prosecution will now have a validity period of one year from the signing date.