news archive
Scroll THROUGH FOR A LIST OF OUR ARTICLES IN THIS AREA.
In The Spotlight: Zoë Molloy
Zoë is the newest member to the Lysaght team, bringing with her 7 years of IP experience and qualification as a CITMA paralegal. With Lysaght’s commitment to nurturing and developing the staff, Zoë will face new challenges in preparing to manage her own portfolio of countries.
2024 AIPPI World Congress
Richard Stilwell recently represented Lysaght at AIPPI’s World Congress event in Hangzhou, marking the first time an international IP conference has been held in China.
Bermuda: Crucial changes to the Trade Mark Act
We are pleased to report that the Bermuda Registry General has now issued an Industry Notice confirming that the new Trade Mark Act has been approved by the Bermudan Parliament.
Trade Mark protection in Iraq and Kurdistan: Update on the Nice Classification
In Iraq and the Kurdistan region, effective trade mark registration is increasingly critical as the economy grows and foreign investment rises. An important development in this field will be the adoption of the 11th edition of the Nice Classification in both regions from January 2025.
Yemen - IP Registry in Sana’a relaxes its policy towards foreign trade mark applicants
On 11 November 2024, the Ministry of Economy and Industry and Investment Trade in Sana'a issued Ministerial Decision No. 56 of 2024 which relaxes some of the restrictions previously imposed on Swedish and American trade mark applicants and owners. This Decision now permits the renewal of trade mark registrations owned by entities in the US and Sweden. Whilst it is not clear whether the restrictions have also been removed for UK-based right holders, we believe that the removal of the ban also applies here.
Eurasian design system to enter into force in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan will become the final Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO) member state to join the Eurasian industrial design protection system, following the deposit of its instrument of accession to the Protocol on the Protection of Industrial Designs to the Eurasian Patent Convention. The Protocol will enter into force in Turkmenistan on 4 January 2025.
The Eurasian design system, which has been operational since 1 June 2021, allows applicants to obtain simultaneous protection in the EAPO member states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and, with effect from 4 January 2025, Turkmenistan. Applicants can file a single Eurasian design application, covering up to 100 industrial designs in the same class under the International Classification for Industrial Designs, in order to secure protection across all member states.
Myanmar – Patent and Utility Model applications can now be filed
As previously reported, Myanmar’s long-awaited Patent Law 2019 came into effect earlier this year. Finally, on 31 October 2024, Myanmar's Intellectual Property Department (IPD) officially begun to accept new patent and utility model applications. This important development finally enables patent applicants to benefit from a substantive patent protection system in Myanmar, with the implementation of the new law replacing the primitive and unsatisfactory “cautionary notice” system for the first time.
Fee increases at USPTO
Numerous of the USPTO’s fees for patent matters are set to increase on 19 January 2025, including the fees for filing a patent application, Requests for Continued Examination, appeals and the issuance of patents. It is therefore worth considering filing any items with fee increases prior to 19 January 2025 so as to benefit from the current lower fees.
Ethiopia – Accession to Paris Convention and Madrid Protocol
On 1 October 2024, Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers approved the country’s accession to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks. Ethiopia’s accession to these IP treaties and to trade agreements such as the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), along with the necessary modernisation of Ethiopia’s IP laws, will serve to bring Ethiopia onto the global stage for IP and help to stimulate trade and investment in the country.
OAPI – New patent and utility model law coming into force shortly
We have just received information from the Head of the Patent Department at OAPI that Annexes I and II (which relate to patents and utility models, respectively) of the revised Bangui Accord will be brought into force on 1 January 2025. We expect OAPI to issue some further information and guidelines as to the implementation of the new law in the near future.
Lebanon - Operational difficulties at IPO
The Lebanese Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is currently facing significant operational difficulties due to the ongoing economic and political instability in the country. The challenging environment has led to staff shortages, as many employees are unable to attend work. In addition, technical issues with the online portal have further complicated the IPO’s ability to process applications efficiently.
Qatar – Patent annuity payments (Update)
On 15 September 2025, the Qatari Patent Office has reinstated the requirement to pay annuities on pending applications. As a result, applicants are required to ensure that all outstanding annuity fees are paid on each anniversary of the effective filing date of their patent applications (which, for PCT national phase applications, is deemed to be the international filing date), from the 2nd annuity onwards, regardless of whether a grant decision has been issued.
Uruguay formally acceding to the PCT
Uruguay will deposit its instrument of accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty on 7 October 2024, and the agreement will enter into force 3 months later, on 7 January 2025. This accession to the PCT represents a culmination of the country’s efforts to support locally generated inventions, foster investment, create new business opportunities, and elevate Uruguay’s position in the international patent arena.
Annual Maintenance Fees due January 2025
We remind all applicants and owners of Cayman Islands patent, trade mark and design registrations, and all owners of trade marks in the Turks & Caicos Islands, that the next annual maintenance fees (AMFs) for such cases are due for payment on 1 January 2025. If these annual fees are not paid by 31 March 2025, penalty fees will accrue.
Australia – Changes to fees for IP matters
IP Australia has just announced some changes to the official fees for patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights, which will come into effect on 1 October 2024. Inter alia, the filing fees for patents and plant breeder’s rights will increase, trade mark filing fees will remain unchanged, and designs filing fees will decrease.
Argentina - Patent applicants required to confirm ongoing interest in applications
A resolution was published in Argentina on 26 August 2024 which requires that, within 60 calendar days from notification in the Patent Bulletin, applicants with pending patent applications in Argentina must make an express statement as to whether or not the priority claimed has been granted in the country of origin.
Philippines - Payment of issuance and publication fees for trade mark renewals
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has issued a memorandum which requires that the fees for the issuance and publication of a trade mark renewal must now be remitted along with the payment of the renewal fee instead of upon receipt of a Notice of Issuance. This new practice took effect on 25 July 2024 and it should serve to expedite the renewal process.
El Salvador - New IP law approved
The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador has recently approved a new Intellectual Property Law, which will replace, update and combine into a single body the current "Law of Trademarks and Other Distinctive Signs" and the 1993 "Law of Intellectual Property". It will also create the Salvadoran Institute of Intellectual Property (IPSI) which will be in charge of managing procedures and mediating conflicts arising from IP rights.
Libya – Trade Mark Office to resume accepting applications
The Libyan Trade Mark Office has announced that it will resume accepting new trade mark applications, as of 2nd September 2024.
In addition, some new requirements for trade mark applications were introduced in Libya with effect from 1 May 2024.
Rwanda - New IP law in force
A new Law on the Protection of Intellectual Property was published in Rwanda on 31 July 2024 and came into force on the same day. The Law paves the way for a more streamlined approach for the filing of patent and trade mark applications, as well as clarifying aspects of their prosecution and registrability.