Montenegro will soon become the 39th member state of the European Patent Organisation, by virtue of its accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC).  Its accession will take effect on 1st October 2022, and from that date, Montengro will be a full Member State of the EPC and not merely an Extension State.   For more information please contact the author, Louise Audhlam-Gardiner, at louise@lysaght.co.uk

On 14th July 2022, the Republic of Cabo Verde (commonly known as Cape Verde) deposited instruments of accession to the Lusaka Agreement, Banjul and Harare Protocols of ARIPO. Consequently, Cape Verde has become the 22nd contracting state to the ARIPO Agreement, and from 14th October 2022, applicants will be able to designate Cape Verde in ARIPO applications for patents, industrial designs, utility models, trade marks and the protection of traditional knowledge rights.   As reported...

A new IP law, No. 21.355, entered into force on 9th May 2022, in which various articles of the current IP Law No. 19.039 dated 1991 and its subsequent iterations were amended. The most significant changes that have been introduced for trade marks, patents and industrial designs are as follows:   TRADE MARKS: • Non-traditional trade marks such as 3D, holographic and olfactory marks are now provided for in the new law, which eliminates the requirement for graphical representation. • Use...