WIPO recently published its 16th edition of the Global Innovative Index (GII). The GII lists the leading economies in global innovation, ranking the innovation performance of 132 economies. The GII ranking highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of each economy. The GII measures innovation based on criteria that include institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, […]

In the recent case of Ekpenyong v The National Assembly & 2 Others, the Federal High Court of Nigeria declared the existence of the Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC) unconstitutional. The APC was established in 2020 as an administrative tribunal intended to resolve disputes arising from the operation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act or its […]

On 14 September 2023, Adams & Adams hosted the 10th annual Africa Network Meeting at its Pretoria offices. This was the first in-person event since the pandemic and saw the attendance of over 70 delegates representing over 20 African countries, including the meeting’s first delegate from Somalia. Other attendees included representatives from the African Regional […]

On 31 August, African Traditional Medicine Day, established by the World Health Organisation African region, honours the integral role of traditional medicine in the health and welfare of generations of people on the continent. The event serves as a platform for member states to discuss best practices, groundbreaking evidence, and innovative solutions that showcase the […]

With effect of 1st August 2023, Mr. Benson Mpalo was appointed as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (“PACRA”) in Zambia. Mr. Mpalo joins PACRA as a legal practitioner and Advocate of the Superior Courts of Zambia with excess of fifteen (15) years of experience […]

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) recently confirmed the deposit by the Democratic Republic of São Tomé & Principe on 2nd August 2023 of the instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indicators. The instrument was accompanied by various declarations, including: […]

After nine (9) years, Simon Kimani, more commonly known by his fans as Bamboo, a popular rapper now turned preacher, has been awarded Sh 4 500 000 (approximately US$38500) for Copyright infringement by one of Kenya’s leading telecommunications companies. The infringement arose through the use of the telecommunications company of Bamboo’s songs, Mama Africa, Yes […]

New legislation has been proposed to establish a new Industrial Property Office in Ghana.  The Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill, 2023 (“the Bill”) is currently pending before Parliament and has a way to go in the parliamentary process before the Bill can be assented to by the President. In essence, the Bill proposes to establish […]

Following the launch of Egypt’s National Intellectual Property strategy by Prime Minister Moustfa Madbouly in September 2022, Law No. 163 of 2023 was recently ratified by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and officially published in the Official Gazette on 13th August 2023. Law No. 163 of 2023 provides for the establishment of the Egyptian Organisation […]

In December 2022 and in line with its proposed phased approach, the ACA published a list of HS codes for goods which have been categorized under phase one of the implementation process and now require ACA import permit application starting 1st January 2023. The HS codes published then covered electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders […]