IP HP (Tag interna)

On 26 September 2025 the Court of Appeal of Tanzania handed down a pivotal judgment confirming that African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) trademark registrations designating mainland Tanzania are not enforceable.

In its decision, the Court held that the Banjul Protocol on Marks, which provides for the regional registration of trademarks under ARIPO, has not been ratified or incorporated into Tanzanian law through the Trade and Service Marks Act, Cap. 326. As a result, the Protocol has no legal force or effect in mainland Tanzania.

Innovation is the engine that keeps products in high demand, processes up to date with recent technological trends and, in the end, companies relevant in their markets.

However, maintaining the innovation flow within an organisation is challenging as it requires a good amount of resources, human and otherwise. It is often by resorting to the establishment of partnerships that companies and public institutions can overcome the obstacles preventing them from developing new products and technologies.

Portuguese courts have increasingly restricted the recognition of acquired distinctiveness for non-distinctive signs, diverging from the EU trademark framework. Vitor Palmela Fidalgo examines this, arguing that such limitations jeopardise legal coherence, consumer protection, and the fundamental function of trademarks as indicators of commercial origin within the internal market.

Organized by the Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group, the PTMG Autumn Conference took place in Budapest, Hungary, from October 8th to 10th. The event brought together IP and pharmaceutical professionals to explore a wide range of topics related to trademarks in the pharmaceutical industry and beyond.

On September 10, 2025, the EU General Court (EGC) issued its judgment in the case of Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), T-288/24, (ECLI:EU:T:2025:847).

In this decision, the EGC annulled a decision by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) which had refused the registration of a sound trademark.

This is an important decision by the EGC, as it sets a threshold example of the distinctiveness required for the protection of sound trademarks.

The EUIPO’s contested decision

On September 29 and 30, 2025, BioMeet 2025 took place at the Taguspark Conference Center in Oeiras. The event focused on the biotechnology sector, promoting knowledge sharing, networking, and stimulating innovation.

Africa’s fashion industry is booming, creating more job opportunities across the continent. Driven by youth, culture, and growing global interest, the sector is gaining international recognition through designers, brands, and events.

We are pleased to announce the members of the Inventa team who have been appointed to the 2026-2027 term of the International Trademark Association (INTA) Committees.

Over the next two years, they will have the opportunity to contribute their experience, collaborate with industry leaders, and reflect on policies that have a global impact within the international trademark community.

Learn more about the INTA committees.

The Trademark Administrators & Practitioners (TMAP) Meeting 2025, organized by the International Trademark Association, took place on September 29–30 in Berlin, Germany.

On September 19th, the Global Creative Legal Summit took place at the Landmark Event Center in Lagos. The summit gathered thought leaders, legal experts, and innovators to explore emerging trends, shaping IP policy and creative law awareness.
This year’s event theme was "training Africa's legal talent for a connected, creative and commercial market," creating a platform for learning and the exchange of ideas.