IP HP (Tag interna)

Ethiopia is now a signatory to the Paris Convention and the Madrid Protocol, with both set to enter into force on August 15, 2025. This upcoming integration is expected to simplify the protection of patents and trademarks allowing applicants to claim earlier filing dates and submit international applications through the WIPO system. This measure strengthens the enforcement of intellectual property and promotes investment and technology transfer. The accession marks a strategic step in Ethiopia’s broader efforts to modernize its IP system.

The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) is a global phenomenon that has taken over every aspect of life. AI is the possibility and capability of computer systems to perform human-designed tasks with little or no errors. Early innovators and researchers of AI believed that human intelligence and behaviour could be neatly copied and translated by intelligent machines that had been designed to do so. In Nigeria and globally, AI has been widely accepted and indoctrinated across various fields of life.

With deep expertise in intellectual property law and a role as an expert at the UPC Mediation and Arbitration Centre, Vitor Palmela Fidalgo shares the challenges and priorities of advising clients on IP matters both locally and internationally, and explains how the Unified Patent Court (UPC) is shaping patent litigation, enforcement, and broader IP trends in Portugal and across Europe.

We’re excited to announce the launch of Inventa’s brand-new website!

With a fresh design and more dynamic design, our goal is to offer a more intuitive, informative, and engaging experience. Whether you're exploring our practice areas, staying up-to-date with the latest news, or getting in touch with our team, the new website has been designed to better align with the needs of our clients.

We are proud to share that Inventa received a Special Distinction in the “Best IP Advisor” category for Portugal at the Leaders League Alliance Summit 2025, held on June 11th in Miami, USA.

The Alliance Summit, organized by Leaders League, brought together top legal and business professionals from over 40 countries. The Summit’s Award Ceremony celebrated legal excellence, recognizing the most distinguished legal departments, firms, and IP advisors from around the world.

We are proud to share that Vítor Palmela Fidalgo, Vítor Sérgio Moreira, Joana Fialho Pinto, and João Cabral have been recognized in the WIPR Leaders 2025 ranking for Portugal by the World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR).

This recognition reflects the expertise of our practitioners and Inventa’s ongoing commitment to excellence in IP protection, as well as the dedication of our professionals in delivering outstanding results to clients and partners.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ultimate buzzword at the moment. But from a patent-based perspective, it is more than just the new fad: it is a pointer to technological developments and signals what consumers should expect from new products coming to the market in the near future.

For all the patent attorneys out there, it is also an indicator of the technologies we will be expected to deal with and translate into patent documents. So let’s have a look at what has been happening in the past few years.

When it all started

We are proud to share that Inventa has once again been recognised in the 2025 edition of the IAM Patent 1000, a leading guide dedicated to identifying top patent professionals worldwide. In the Prosecution category for Portugal, Inventa was highlighted for its continued excellence and expertise in the field.

Following recent substantial increases in trademark renewal fees in Libya, some trademark owners have sought to re-register their marks after the expiration of the protection period and its legal grace period, perceiving this as a more cost-effective alternative to renewing their existing registrations and thereby avoiding the significantly higher renewal fees.

The Harare Protocol, one of ARIPO’s cornerstone agreements, allows applicants to secure protection for patents, utility models, and industrial designs through a single ARIPO application, with the same effect as if filed directly in each designated member state. This regional mechanism has long been a valuable tool for rights holders seeking efficient, centralized IP protection across participating African jurisdictions. In this context, we would like to highlight the recent expansion of the system.