08 May 2016

The Companies and Intellectual Property Authority, (CIPA) in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) will engage stakeholders to disseminate information on the Madrid system for the international registration of trademarks at Lansmore Hotel on May 11. 

A press release from CIPA states that trademarks are used by businesses to distinguish their goods and services from those of other businesses. 

It explains that a trademark can be made up of letters, slogans, shapes, colours or numbers. It is also explained that registration of trademarks prevents other companies from using the same or a similar trademark without authorisation from the trademark owner. 

Locally, the release says, trademarks are registered by CIPA, however local registration means the trademark is protected only in the country of registration. 

It adds that CIPA continues to recognise that Botswana businesses are increasingly becoming part of the global village, exporting their goods to other countries, expanding their operations regionally as well as marketing and distributing their goods over the internet. 

It is against this backdrop that CIPA is fast tracking implementation of the Madrid system in order to enable local businesses to protect their trademarks beyond Botswana borders.

The Madrid system, it says, will allow Botswana based businesses to file one local application and choose one or more countries that they wish their trademark to be protected in. 

Some 97 countries are signatory to the Madrid Agreement and businesses may register their trademarks in as many countries as they deem necessary. 

Stakeholders expected to participate in the event include organisations that export their goods, law firms that register trademarks, and other organisations that will benefit from international registrations of their trademarks.

CIPA, formerly the Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property is now a parastatal under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. 

It is charged with implementation and administration of four pieces of legislation which include the Companies Act, Registration of Business Names Act, Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act and the Industrial Property Act.  

They register companies and business names, protect the rights of authors and artists, and protect industrial property rights in relation to patents, trademarks, utility models, industrial designs, traditional knowledge, integrated circuits, geographical indications and handicrafts. ENDS