Madrid Protocol

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.

Mauritius is enjoying a year full of changes and progress, which began with the Industrial Property Act 2019 entering into force on January 31, 2022.

Currently, Mauritius is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and a signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Universal Copyright Convention, and the Berne Convention.

On February 6, the government of Mauritius deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid and the Hague System which entered into force on May 6, 2023.

Madrid Protocol: From May 2023, trademark applicants in Mauritius will be able to secure the protection of their trademarks in all member countries, through a single registration application.

In relation to the 50th anniversary of Inventa International, we have been given the challenge to analyze certain intellectual property data over the past 50 years on the African continent.

As it is impossible to cover a panoramic view of the various events, we chose just a few topics we found interesting for this minor-scale study. At the outset, it seems important for us to outline a short introduction about the African continent and the protection of industrial property in the countries of which it is made up.

Africa is the continent with the largest number of countries – 54. As trademarks are usually protected at a national level, an African-wide trademark protection strategy can be taxing. However, there are some shortcuts that will help applicants to secure African-wide trademark protection.

Madrid Protocol

The Madrid Protocol for the international registration of trademarks was established in 1989 and provides applicants with the possibility of designating several countries with a single application.

According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTD), total trade from Africa to the rest of the world averaged roughly $760.5 billion between 2015 and 2017. The UNCTD also indicates that the share of exports from Africa to the rest of the world ranged from 80% to 90% during the same period, making the continent the second most export-dependent region in the world.

São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country located on the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. The country consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, respectively. The official language is Portuguese due to the Portuguese occupation that lasted until the country’s independence from Portugal in 1975.

The country has more than 200,000 inhabitants and is considered a paradise by many, yet it remains relatively unexplored by the tourism industry.

Global data analysis

The Madrid Union is based on the Madrid Protocol 1989, which allows applicants to directly file trademarks in several countries with a single application and set of fees, through a centralised bureau that forwards them office actions. This cost-effective system can circumvent the need to directly file trademarks in national and regional offices, resulting in greater cost savings for applicants.

Regional reach

Africa is the second largest continent in terms of size and population. Prior to the covid-19 outbreak, its young communities, developing economies and access to commodities meant that Africa was increasingly becoming a recipient of foreign direct investment.

Foreign companies wishing to protect their brands in any of the 54 countries on the continent should be aware of a few key IP management tips to ensure the protection of their trademarks without harming their legal protection.

Malawi has just formalized its adherence to the Madrid Protocol by depositing the country’s instrument of accession on the 25th September.