The Republic of Seychelles has acceded to the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs, so becoming the 21st ARIPO Member State. The instrument of accession was received by the ARIPO Director General on 1st October 2021 and means that, with effect from 1st January 2022, users of the ARIPO system can designate the Seychelles in their patent and design applications.   For more information please contact the author, Louise Audhlam-Gardiner, at louise@lysaght.co.uk  

Pursuant to our previous post on this subject, the Fiji Parliament has passed the aforementioned Bills, which have now become the Trade Marks Act 2021, the Patents Act 2021 and the Designs Act 2021.   Although the Acts have been passed, their provisions have yet to commence, as the accompanying Regulations have not yet been published.  We hope to be advised of the commencement date(s) shortly.  Further information will be posted as soon as it has been received. For more...

The Nauru Trade Marks Act came into force in November 2020. However, due to an initial lack of official forms, or a procedure for payment of official fees, it has not been possible to file trade mark applications until now. The new law allows for the registration of applications in a single class of goods or services; multiclass applications will not be permitted. It is an examination system, and the Registry has the power to refuse applications on absolute or relative grounds. Applications...