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TERRITORIES

Africa has become the go-to continent for international business.  Home to over one billion people, a number that’s growing fast, and with that growth comes an ever-growing interest in technology and multinational brands.  In Africa there are sensitivities about, and issues surrounding, IP that don’t necessarily exist elsewhere.  There is a degree of skepticism about patents, especially in the area of pharmaceuticals.  There’s considerable interest in the compulsory licensing of IP knowledge systems, particularly patents.  There’s growing interest in traditional and plant variety protection.

In Africa there’s a great deal of catch-up taking place, with many countries keen to bring their IP into line with modern norms, quite prepared to rip up old statutes and replace them with brand new ones.  There are also often real challenges when it comes to judicial expertise and enforcement resources.

Mozambique

Mozambique is young, its’ urban and its’s growing!  One third of Mozambique’s 31 million citizens are urban.  The medium age in Mozambique is 17 years.  So, Mozambicans by and large are tech savvy, brand conscious, young people you’ll find in much of Africa.

 

Situated on the south east of Africa, it shares borders with 6 countries.  To the west Zimbabwe, to the north Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia and South Africa and Eswatini to the south.  Mozambique is a very important gateway to Southern Africa and undoubtedly an important commercial destination in its own right.  The country’s major commercial ports play a very important role in the economy of the country.

 

These ports, especially the Maputo corridor, are used by all neighboring countries for a big part of their exports and imports.  The transit channels to neighboring countries makes Mozambique and important territory for counterfeit trafficking and activities, to highlight only one of the reasons for protection your IPR in Mozambique.

 

Protecting IP in Mozambique:

It is very likely that you already know important IP Protection and enforcement is in ensuring commercial success. But you may need to be told a bit more about protecting IP in Mozambique. Here’s a starter kit:

 

Laws governing IP in Mozambique:

The laws governing IPR protection is mainly the Industrial Property Code No 47/2015 of 31 December and the Copyright law of 2001.

 

Industrial property is the branch of IP that includes:  Patents, designs, trademarks, tradenames, industrial designs, unfair competition, origin and geographical indicators, insignias of establishments, logo towards.

 

Mozambique has also ratified or acceded to the following International conventions and treaties:

Mozambique is furthermore a member of ARIPO, WIPO & WTO.

 

The organizations overseeing various Intellectual Property Rights registrations in Mozambique are:

  • Industrial Property Institute for Trademark, Patent and Design registrations;
  • National Institute of Books & Records responsible for registration of Intellectual property rights relating to Software;
  • The Mozambican Society of Authors overseeing all Copyright registrations;
  • Minister of Agriculture in specific the Seed Department is responsible for Plant variety registrations;
  • The National Inspectorate of Economic Activities handles all anti – counterfeit matters.

Angola

Angola is a country with great economic potential, the 7th largest country in Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Zambia, Namibia and DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo).  As a former Portuguese colony Angola’s official language is Portuguese.

 

Angola’s economy is largely driven by its oil sector and in small quantities of diamonds, sisal, fish and coffee.  Angola was a leading exporter of fish until the mid-1970’s but lost its fisheries capacity during the extended civil war that ended in 2002. The Angolan government is making and active effort to once again make Angola a leading exporter in the fishing industry. The country has various ports, with Luanda the main port that is situated next to the Luanda railway, which makes for easy distribution of products throughout the country.

 

Counterfeit goods are a growing concern in Angola.  The Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) of the Angolan Police is responsible for actions taken in respect of counterfeit goods in Angola and are active in conducting operations and enforcing of rights.

 

Angola is a member of WIPO, PCT and signed to the international classification of the Nice Agreement and the Paris Convention.

 

The Angolan Institute of Industrial Property (IAPI) is a public legal entity, responsible for the execution, growth and development of industrial property in Angola. It was created by Decree No. 30/96 of October 25 and are being supervised by the Ministry of Industry.

 

The National Institute for Cultural Industries (INIC) and the National Directorate of Entertainment and Copyright are the competent authority responsible for copyright matters in Angola.  Intellectual Property rights are recognized in the Constitution and are seen as rights that should be protected and enforced.

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