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Ethiopia – Accession to Paris Convention and Madrid Protocol
news article Louise Audhlam-Gardiner news article Louise Audhlam-Gardiner

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.

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Lebanon - Operational Difficulties at IPO
news article Richard Stilwell news article Richard Stilwell

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.

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Annual Maintenance Fees due January 2025
news article Tim Noel news article Tim Noel

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. 

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Australia – Changes to fees for IP matters
news article Louise Audhlam-Gardiner news article Louise Audhlam-Gardiner

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.  

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Philippines - Payment of issuance and publication fees for trade mark renewals
news article Richard Stilwell news article Richard Stilwell

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.

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El Salvador - New IP law approved
news article Louise Audhlam-Gardiner news article Louise Audhlam-Gardiner

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.

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Rwanda - New IP law in force
news article Louise Audhlam-Gardiner news article Louise Audhlam-Gardiner

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.

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United Kingdom – Tightening the rules on rights of representation at the UKIPO
news article Richard Stilwell news article Richard Stilwell

United Kingdom – Tightening the rules on rights of representation at the UKIPO

All new UK applications for patents, trade marks or designs must appoint an address for service in the UK, Gibraltar or the Channel Islands. Since 01 January 2024, all comparable trade marks and re-registered designs derived from EU rights post-Brexit must have a UK address for service to respond to challenges filed by third parties.

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Yemen – IP Registry  in Sana’a cancels registrations held by U.S. and British owners
news article Richard Stilwell news article Richard Stilwell

Yemen – IP Registry in Sana’a cancels registrations held by U.S. and British owners

The Intellectual Property Office based in Sana’a, Yemen has announced that trade mark rights owned by US and British companies are now invalid, and that they will no longer accept new applications. Furthermore, ongoing civil unrest has led to a de facto two-state country. To obtain trade mark, design and patent protection across the whole country, it is necessary to file applications in both Sana’a and Adan Registries.

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EU trade marks no longer cover Jersey
news article Richard Stilwell news article Richard Stilwell

EU trade marks no longer cover Jersey

The Government of Jersey has clarified its position on whether EU trade marks automatically extend to Jersey under current legislation, confirming that no such coverage has existed since April 2009. Trade mark owners wishing to obtain protection in Jersey should re-register UK national trade marks, or rely on the automatic coverage granted to IR(UK) designations.

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