IP Rights

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) was signed on March 21, 2018, at Kigali, Rwanda, where 44 out of 55 African Union member states appended their assent to a landmark treaty.

We are proud to see Inventa recognized in the Leaders League ranking of the best firms in Portugal for 2023 in "Trademark Prosecution" (Leading Firm), "Patent Prosecution" (Leading Firm) and "IP Litigation" (Highly Recommended Firm) categories, with a particular highlight on the performance of Vítor Palmela Fidalgo, Vítor Sérgio Moreira, and João Pereira Cabral.

Before 2009, all Burundi’s trademarks were registered for an indefinite term period. However, following the entry into force of the new IP Law in Burundi, on 28th July 2009, all marks registered before the enactment of the law were set to be renewed by 28 th July 2019. The new law allowed a time extension for renewal of the marks falling under this situation until 28th January 2020 and has established a validity of 10 years for all trademarks.

This article serves the purpose of educating creatives on the importance of copyright laws in Nigeria. It also provides insight into the major aspects of copyrights, its protection, and their implication on creatives. 

It is worthy of note that the principal law that governs copyrights in Nigeria is the Copyright Act LFN 2004, and the government agency that is responsible for the regulation and administration of copyright in Nigeria is the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC). 

In Geneva, on June 17, ministers, and delegates at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12) reached an agreement on a series of key trade initiatives. The deal represents a breakthrough for the Organisation which has created one agreement between all 164 members in its 27-year existence to date.

Although the religious texts do not refer to Intellectual Property (IP), religions are connected to IP.

In a more evident way, religions’ influence on IP ranges from discussing and approving IP laws to registering and using trademarks. In a less obvious way, we observed a displacement of religion in trademarks, through consumerism. Like religions, well-known brands, such as Coca-Cola and McDonald’s, became ideological structures that shape our ways of being and doing, filling the void left by the withdrawal of the main religions of a partially desacralized world.

Kenya has taken recent measures regarding anti-counterfeiting to be implemented by the Anti-Counterfeiting Authority (ACA). The ACA’s Public Notice (No.1/2022), issued on 26 April 2022, established that all IP rights for goods imported into Kenya must be recorded with the ACA starting July 1, 2022. This applies to all imported goods freed of where the IP right is registered. The second Public Notice (No.2/2022) states the deadline extension to submit a mandatory record to 1 January 2023. Not complying with the legislation can lead to legal consequences.

According to the World Health Organization, Africa accounts around 42% of the world’s counterfeit drugs. As we see counterfeiting and other illicit trade an ongoing problem in the continent, what challenges exist and what has been done to tackle this problem?

Promoted by Wolter Kluwer, Martin Luten, from  Arnold & Siedsma, interviewed Vera Albino, who explained some of the mechanisms used to enforce IP rights in Africa, efforts made by governments to put legal frameworks in place, as well as precautionary measures that a brand owner can take.

Published in IP Stars, Diana Pereira and Inês Sequeira approach some changes that are taking place in Cape Verde’s IP landscape, explaining some of the policies and strategic plans recently adopted aiming at building a stronger IP system for the country.

Read the full article here.

Inventa joined the Innovation & IP Forum and Awards on May 31, 2022, in Paris. Organized by the Leaders League, this event is dedicated to discussing global challenges and opportunities related to in patent, trademark, IT,  IP litigation and other related IP rights.

Represented by Diogo Antunes and Diogo Maroco, Inventa was recognized with a special distinction in the category of Best IP Advisory in Portugal.