As previously reported on this website, Patent Law No. 2 of 2003 is finally now fully in force, and the Registration of UK Patents Act (CAP. 80) has been repealed, such that it is no longer possible to file new applications for the reregistration of granted UK patents there.   We have now learnt that the Vanuatu Registry is interpreting the transitional provisions of Law No. 2 of 2003 (in particular Section 54(4) of this law) to the effect that any UK-based reregistration patent granted...

Dr Denis Loukou Bohoussou (from Côte d'Ivoire) is the new Director-General of the African Organization for Intellectual Property (OAPI), following his installation ceremony on 31st July 2017 at OAPI’s headquarters in Yaounde, Cameroon. Dr Bohoussou will serve a five-year term and replaces Dr Paulin Edou Edou (of Gabon) who has been OAPI’s Director-General for the past ten years. Mr Jean-Baptiste Wago (from the Central African Republic) becomes the new Deputy Director-General, and Mr Touré...

There appears to have been a recent change in practice at OAPI regarding the filing of voluntary divisional patent applications. OAPI appears to be considering that requests for voluntary divisional patent applications must be made within the 30-month term provided for under the PCT for entry into the regional phase.  This effectively means that applicants are expected to decide at the time of PCT regional phase entry whether or not they also wish to file any voluntary divisional...