Trademarks

After attending INTA’s conference “The Power of Design”, Inês Monteiro Alves discusses the lack of mention of Africa as a Continent, regarding IP rights and designs in particular.

Upon attending the INTA’s Conference “The Power of Design” on February this year, in London, I became aware of the lack of mention of Africa as a Continent in what regards the protection of IP Rights in general and designs in particular.

The 11th edition of the Nice Classification entered into force in February, 2018 in Oman.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MUSCAT) officially adopted the 11th Edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of trademarks under the Nice Agreement.

Since February 1st of 2018, applicants have been able to submit trademark applications designating items from the international classification system.

This will not affect trademarks which already have been filed and registered in Oman.

John Steinbeck, in one of his works, questioned "Without our past, how will we know it´s us?"  João de Barros also said "the man without memory has the understanding of little boy".

The preservation of our past, made of narrations and expositions of facts and memorable events, is a common concern for as long as memory exists. Characterized by historical feats, it is also externalized by artistic forms, namely traditional cultural expressions.

The new Bill has relevant changes to it, which makes it look far more like a modern trademark statute.

Three months ago, on December 2017, a new Trademark Bill was approved by the Malawi’s Parliament and sent to the President in order to assent it. This Bill was created to replace the Trade Marks Act 1957, which was yet antiquated and in need of updating.

This court, called the Fifth Civil Court of First instance, will be used to hold hearings related to appeals against final refusal decisions by the Registrar, litigation proceedings with respect to infringement cases and oppositions by third parties, and cancellation proceedings, which is going to accelerate the decision making process for the above mentioned cases.

On December 4 of 2017, EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) published a Common Communication on the representation of new types of trademarks introduced by the EU trademark reform.

The Common Communication intends to explain clearly which types of trademarks will be recognized by each national PTO, as well as their accepted definitions and means of representation. One of the main changes is the elimination of graphical representation requirement, making easier the registrations of non-traditional trademarks.

Today I would like to talk about olfactory trademarks, but what about perfumes?

In the world of industrial property, more specifically - Trademarks - there was a huge buzz around the new Directive 2015/2436 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2015 and the new EU Regulation 2015 / 2424 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2015.

We hereby announce that the Angolan PTO published a notification, requesting all applicants and/or attorneys of trademark applications numbered from 5001 (five thousand and one) to 20.757 (twenty thousand, seven hundred and fifty seven) to present the following documents in order to update the files respective to these trademarks:

   - Copy of the official filing receipt or application request;
   - Power of Attorney or Proxy;
   - Certificate of Incorporation, proving the company's commercial activity in its native country;

The online system enters in force on 18th December of 2017.

On 18th December, the online registrations for all trademarks, patents, renewals and recordals (change of address, name and assignment) will enter in force in Tanzania, meaning that the manual system for filing applications at the Registry will no longer be applicable.

By having an online system, the same will ease the workload at the Registry and the time for registration will be faster.

The Ministry of Trade of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced an increase of about 15% on the country’s official fees regarding intelectual property, that covers trademark, patent and design registrations.

If you wish to know more about this matter, please contact us at africa@inventa.com .