Patents

Implemented by the Presidential Decree No. 62/20 of 4 March, the new official fees related to Industrial Property procedures in Angola, were published in the Official Gazette of the Angola Republic.

The new fees came into force on March 20, 2020 and reflect an increase of values in all Industrial Property procedures practiced in this jurisdiction, updating rates that have remained unchanged for more than 20 years.

It is manifest the growing interest of mankind in disruptive themes as Artificial Intelligence (AI). As we have been analyzing, this theme has increased its significance as the inventions reach new and inspiring outcomes. This article intends to analyze if there have been a growing tendency on patent applications related to AI in the European Patents Office or if, besides all the euphoria, we are still far away from a technological boom particulary inventive.

Inventa International attended the "Innovation & IP Forum and Awards", last January 28, in Paris. The event is dedicated to international challenges in matters related to intellectual property, involving patents, trademarks, IP litigation and other related rights, organized annually by the Leaders League.

Diogo Antunes represented Inventa International where we were awarded with the Silver Award in the category of Best IP Advisory in Portugal.

After successive postponements, the United Kingdom will finally leave the European Union, popularly known as Brexit, with effect from 31 January 2020. It is therefore important to know what will become of the Intellectual Property assets filed and registered through EUIPO.

For that reason we have summarized a practical guide for this transitional period and the future of assets protected in the European Union.

TRADEMARKS

1. Transition period

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) is empowered to grant and administer patents in accordance with the provisions of the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs. According to Harare Protocol, patents shall be granted for any inventions, in all fields of technology, provided that they meet the patentability requirements: novelty, inventive step and industrial application.

Please be informed that the increase of the official fees for Patents and Designs in South Africa, previously set to occur in October 1st, has now been suspended.

As required by law, the official publication regarding the increase of the official fees is mandatory, however it is yet to take place.

Kindly note that all charges will remain unaltered until further notice.

The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) has changed the procedure regarding patent search and examination fee, based on Article 28 (2) of the Inventions, Minor Inventions & Industrial Design Regulation Number 12/1997.

According to this new procedure, implemented at the end of the last year, an applicant should pay search and substantive examination fee of USD 200 after filing an application. Although there is no specific period for attending this payment, the EIPO recommends that this should be done as soon as possible.

Bemanya Twebaze, The Registrar General of Uganda Registration Services Bureau has just been elected President of the WIPO Advisory Committee on Enforcement.

The election of Bemanya, that has previously served as President of Paris Union Assembly of WIPO, is a remarkable achievement for Uganda.

A protocol on Patent matters has recently been celebrated between the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) of Portugal and the Institute of Quality and Intellectual Property Management (IGQPI) of Cape Verde, aiming to improve the services provided by the latter.