Mauritius: new year, new beginnings
Mauritius is enjoying a year full of changes and progress, which began with the Industrial Property Act 2019 entering into force on January 31, 2022.
Currently, Mauritius is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and a signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Universal Copyright Convention, and the Berne Convention.
50 years of Intellectual Property in Africa
In relation to the 50th anniversary of Inventa International, we have been given the challenge to analyze certain intellectual property data over the past 50 years on the African continent.
As it is impossible to cover a panoramic view of the various events, we chose just a few topics we found interesting for this minor-scale study. At the outset, it seems important for us to outline a short introduction about the African continent and the protection of industrial property in the countries of which it is made up.
Essential steps for Chinese companies filing trademark applications in Africa
Chinese companies began investing in Africa in the last century, mainly via direct investment. In 2013 President Xi Jinping proposed China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in order to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via the continental belt and maritime road across 65 countries. Its aim is to improve regional integration, increase trade and stimulate economic growth.
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan joins Madrid Protocol
On March 26, the General Director of WIPO announced with satisfaction the adherence of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the Madrid Protocol.
The Madrid system makes possible for a trademark to be registered by any applicant through a single application in all countries that are part of this agreement.
Algeria Joins Madrid Protocol
As from the 31st of October, 2015 trademark applicants in Algeria will be able to make better use of the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks. The Algerian government placed its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol with the Director General of The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on the 31st of July this year. This proves beneficial to trademark owners in Algeria as they will now gain full access to the jurisdictions covered by the Madrid Protocol for International trademark protection.