Trademarks

Today we launch Inventa IP Review, an annual compilation with the main Intellectual Property (IP) topics of the previous year, through opinion articles and relevant announcements.

A year has passed since the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented disruption in global development. But in some way, it also allowed us to be more resilient and find new routes of communicating.

The path of Intellectual Property was no different.

The city of Nanchang hosted the 12th China Trademark Festival, an event dedicated to national and international Intellectual Property (IP) strategy, mainly regarding chinese trademarks and brands.

From December 5 to December 7, 2020, Inventa International joined the festival, represented by Crystal Zhang, with the purpose to exchange some ideas regarding protection of IP rights and internationalization of chinese brands.

Following national protests relating to the fatal shooting of singer Hachalu Hundessa on 29 June, Internet access was cut across Ethiopia the next day. Hachalu was an activist and important figure in the Oromo community. Up until the cut, content showing protesters in the capital and across the Oromia region could be seen on social media.

WIPO recently released its annual 2019 statistics, which revealed a record year in terms of international IP rights. This article focuses on international trademark applications coming from Africa.

The Madrid Protocol on the International Registration of Marks (1989) currently has 106 members, covering 122 countries. In Africa, the Madrid Protocol has 22 members over 38 countries, due to the participation of the African Intellectual Property Organisation.

In Angola, all trademark applications are subject to examination by the Angolan Institute of Industrial Property (IAPI). During this process, if the institute concludes that there are grounds for refusal as specified under Articles 31(1) and 35 of the Angolan Industrial Property Law, it will publish the refusal in the Industrial Property Bulletin.

We are pleased to inform our clients from the United States that a new app has been launched to revolutionize the legalization process of Power of Attorneys from Ethiopia.

The Consular Office, through the website www.eepoa.org, provides an expedite service that allows applicants and agents to fill in the E-POA form, make the payment and send it to the Embassy of Ethiopia for the online legalization process in less than 24-48 hours.

This year, INTA’s Europe Conference “Brands, Sports, and Esports: A Brand (R)evolution” took place in Madrid, Spain.

The WIPR - World IP Review interviewed the Managing Partner of Inventa International, Daniel Reis Nobre, to learn more about the IP panorama across Africa. 

The challenges and opportunities that Africa presents, when it comes to the protection of IP assets were at the center of the conversation.

This year’s INTA Leadership Meeting took place in the city of Austin, in Texas – USA.

At this annual event International Trademark Association (INTA) brings together its nominated leaders for an advanced-level educational program, as well as to designate the Association’s upcoming objectives and goals.

The city of Guangdong hosted the 2019 IP EXPO, an event dedicated to the international Intellectual Property (IP) community that focused on this region’s potential.

The event was focused on the construction of scientific and technological innovation center with global influence, and further build a Guangdong - Hong Kong – Macao bay area brand featured by internationalization, high-end level and large scale.