news archive
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Bangladesh - New Patent Act now in force
The Government of Bangladesh has officially announced in its latest gazette that the Bangladesh Patent Act 2023 came into force from 27 February 2025. The new Act marks a significant modernisation of the country’s legal provisions for patent protection.
Whilst the new Act has so far only been published in the local (Bengali) language, we have ascertained some salient points of the new law, and these are discussed in our article.
Guidelines following Uruguay's accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty
The Uruguayan Patent and Trademark Office (DNPI) has now issued its first regulation which establishes the initial legal framework for PCT applications in Uruguay. This follows its accession to the PCT with effect from 7 January 2025. We summarise the main points established so far.
Bahrain signs further Patent Prosecution Highway agreements
The Bahrain Ministry of Industry and Commerce has recently signed agreements with the South Korean and European Patent Offices to mutually benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program. Applicants who receive a positive ruling on patent claims from the Bahrain IPO and either the South Korean IPO or the EPO will enjoy an accelerated examination of corresponding claims in the other office, and vice versa. This will serve to reduce the time it takes to secure patent protection in these jurisdictions, and will streamline the prosecution of those patent applications.
Bahamas - New IP laws in force
As reported last week on our website, new IP laws relating to copyright, patents, and trade marks were unexpectedly brought into retroactive effect in the Bahamas from 1 February 2025. Whilst we are still awaiting written confirmation from BIPO and approval of the implementing regulations, we have analysed the new laws and summarise here some provisions of particular significance.
CITMA Spring Conference and INTA 2025 attendance
Lysaght will be present at both the upcoming CITMA Spring Conference (20-21 March 2025) in London, and the INTA Annual Meeting (17-21 May 2025) in San Diego.
We look forward to attending these discussions, as well as to meeting both new and existing colleagues, clients and agents from around the world. Tim Noel and Richard Stilwell are currently filling their schedules with meetings, so please email us at admin@lysaght.co.uk if you would like to meet with them.
Bahamas - New IP laws in force
On 25 February 2025, the Bahamas IPO (BIPO) informed practitioners in a verbal communication that new IP laws relating to copyright, patents, and trade marks became retroactively effective from 1 February 2025. However, the subsidiary legislation, including the implementing regulations and official fees, has not been finalised or approved and no timeframe has yet been provided for this.
ARIPO - Amendments to law on patents, designs and utility models
The ARIPO Administrative Council has adopted several amendments to the Harare Protocol on Patents, Utility Models and Industrial Designs ("the Protocol") and its Implementing Regulations (“the Regulations”), which will come into effect on 1 March 2025. Our article summarises some of the key changes.
Kiribati – New IP laws currently under review
It has come to our attention that new patent and trade mark laws are currently under review in the Republic of Kiribati which, once promulgated, will overhaul the current UK-based re-registration systems that currently exist there and will introduce national filing systems.
ARIPO - New official fees for patent and design matters
It has been announced that ARIPO will increase some of its official fees for patent and design matters, which will apply to all new and existing patent cases from 1st March 2025.
Saudi Arabia – Accession to International Design Registration Treaty
The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently deposited its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs. This law will enter into force in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 7 April 2025.
COSTA RICA – Validation of European patents
The European Patent Office and the Costa Rican Minister of Justice of Peace have just announced that they have signed an agreement allowing European patents to be validated in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is the first country in Latin America to sign such an agreement. The news marks a significant step in strengthening intellectual property protection and fostering innovation and investment in Latin America.
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.