news archive
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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.
Bermuda: Further delays to the new Trade Mark Act
We have received notification from the Intellectual Property Office that the enforcement date of the new Trade Marks Act in Bermuda has been delayed again, and a date of 01 April 2025 is now being considered. At this time, we cannot confirm whether the new law will be enforced on that date or whether there will be additional delays, but until the new law comes into force, the old legislation is still in effect.
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.
Libya – Revocation of certain Trade Marks; Amendment to Trade Mark Renewal Fees
Two pieces of news have recently come to light regarding trade mark matters in Libya, which have significant implications for rights holders there. We summarise these developments relating to the cancellation of certain trade marks and an increase in the official fees for renewal payments.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Qatar - Legalisation requirements for Powers of Attorney
An official circular was issued by the Qatari Intellectual Property Department on 25 June 2024, outlining changes to the requirements for Powers of Attorney (POA) for IP matters
Qatar - Madrid Protocol
Qatar becomes the 131st member of the Madrid Protocol, enabling international trade marks to designate this Gulf state from 3rd August 2024.
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.
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.
Uganda – New Trade Mark Regulations
Some new trade mark regulations came into force in Uganda on 2 February 2024 which, inter alia, have introduced the requirement that trade marks and notices be published in the Uganda Gazette, as was the case pre-2021.