Patents

Africa is beginning to make its mark in the international space sector, driven by growing investment and innovation. The 2025 inauguration of the African Space Agency represents a key milestone in this expansion.

The webinar “Protect Your IP with IT and Inventa: Software Patents and Artificial Intelligence” took place on February 26, with the participation of Inventa.

The event was held at the Telecommunications Institute (IT) in Lisbon and highlighted the main challenges and opportunities in protecting computer-implemented inventions, including those driven by Artificial Intelligence.

On February 17, 2025, Angela Adebayo Agbe-Davies, Regional Director at Inventa Nigeria, led the masterclass “Exploring Governance Models and Intellectual Property” at the 5th edition of The Creative Class Programme by The Assembly Hub. 

The “Inventa IP Review” annually highlights key intellectual property (IP) developments from the past year. This magazine features our team's opinion articles, interviews, press releases, and other expert insights.

From March 1st 2025, the amendments to the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Design will take effect, including their implementing regulations, Forms and Fees. These amendments are applicable to all existing and new applications. 

On February 3rd the application period for SME Fund began, an initiative implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) with the aim of helping small and medium-sized enterprises with the protection of IP rights. The fund offers partial reimbursements for expenses related to:

• IP Scan / IP Enforcement: up to €810 (in Portugal)

• Trademarks and Designs: up to €700

• National Patents: up to €1.500

• European Patents: up to €2.500

• Plant Variety application: €1.500

Recently, the EPO announced two European patent validation agreements with Costa Rica and Laos. Details of the agreement have not yet been fully disclosed and are not yet in force. Based on these agreements, European patents validated in these two countries will have the same effects as the respective national patents.

This article explores the legal remedies under the European Patent Convention (EPC) that enable rightful applicants to reclaim ownership of European patent applications unlawfully filed by others. Such situations often arise from breaches of ethical or legal obligations.

Vítor Palmela Fidalgo, Legal Director of Inventa, Lawyer, and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, has been appointed by the Unified Patent Court (UPC) as the Portuguese representative on the court's Mediation and Arbitration Center.

On November 16, Inventa Nigeria attended the Africa Startup Festival (ASF), a vibrant gathering of young professionals, founders and ambitious entrepreneurs from across the African continent. The ASF featured discussions on innovation, deal-making, and strategic collaboration within the startup ecosystem.