Five things you need to know – Middle East and Africa

Africa

Multiple IP offices are opting to use the EUIPO’s harmonised database of product indications in the DesignClass platform. As of 30 September, the African Regional IP Organisation (ARIPO), the Institute for Intellectual Property of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the National IP Centre of Georgia, the State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova, the State Office of Intellectual Property of the Republic of North Macedonia and the IP Office of the Republic of Serbia have all implemented the change. According to ARIPO, the move “is one of the expected outcomes of EUIPO’s strategic project – the ‘Extension of Tools’ – managed by its International Cooperation Area”.

Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) and the IBA Ethiopia Centre for Innovation have signed a memorandum of understanding designed to facilitate “adequate legal protection for intellectual property” by the EIPO. The memorandum will also promote the “creative ideas of young innovators so as to provide them with opportunities to transform their creativities into profitable business ventures”.

Kenya

In an attempt to clamp down on the trade of counterfeit goods, UK and Kenyan authorities are stepping up their collaboration efforts, focusing primarily on the port of Mombasa in Kenya. The Anti-counterfeit Authority also revealed the launch of the National Strategy to Combat Illicit Trade, which seeks to address weaknesses in regulatory regimes, uncoordinated enforcement mechanisms, limited resources available to agencies and inadequate screening of cargo.

Nigeria

INTA has presented Lara Kayode – founder and managing partner at O Kayode and Co – with its 2019 President’s Award. The honour acknowledges the global trademark community’s profound appreciation of INTA members who, over the course of their career, have made a lasting impact on the association and its mission. Kayode has been volunteering there for nearly 20 years, participating in various committees and contributing to advocacy and policy work, educational programmes and legal resources. She served on the board of directors from 2012 to 2015 and chairs INTA’s Unreal Campaign Committee, Asia and Africa sub-committee. A 2019 President’s Award was also presented to Marion Heathcote, a trademark attorney and indigenous rights advocate based in Sydney, Australia.

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property has announced that the registration of surnames as trademarks is now permitted. The office will assess several aspects when examining trademark applications, including whether a surname complies with the conditions and formal registration requirements related to trademarks, has achieved sufficient fame through wide use in advertisements and is considered to be a component of the mark, rather than the mark itself.