Wholesale changes to the Moroccan Law on Industrial Property

News from good friends H&H Consulting that draft amendments to the Law on Industrial Property in Morocco have been presented to the Secretariat General of the Government. The news says:

“The aim is to enhance the level of protection of industrial property in Morocco and comply with the relevant international standards under various international treaties to which Morocco is a party; including the TRIPS Agreement, the Treaty on Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) and the Free Trade Agreement between Morocco and the United States of America.

Furthermore, in a number of partnership agreements, Morocco undertakes to adhere to the fundamental treaties on industrial property such as the Patent Law Treaty (PLT), the Singapore Treaty on trademark rights and the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs.

In addition, the advanced status granted by the European Union in Morocco provides, among other things, the mutual commitment of both parties to ensure a level of protection of industrial property rights in accordance with the “Acquis Communautaire” in this field. Therefore, an agreement was signed on December 17th, 2010 between Morocco and the European Patent Organization on the validation of European patents. [IPEQ wonders : anyone mention the Unitary Patent?]

The main objectives of this draft amendment revolve around the following points:

1) Improving the system of invention patents,

2) Consolidating the national trademarks system,

3) Reforming the National System of Industrial Designs,

4) Strengthening the implementation of industrial property rights,

5) Upgrading the procedure for filing applications for industrial property rights.

a) The formalities for securities deposit

b) The extension of the deadline for restoration of rights

c) The opposition procedure

d) The system of date marking

e) Electronic filing of applications for registration of industrial designs

f) Organization of the profession of intellectual property consulting”

This part of the Empty Quarter thanks H&H for the report which was much longer in original and attached further information in French – so, please, if you would like more information do make contact with them direct. This part of the Empty Quarter welcomes any improvements in legislation and looks forward to hearing further on the implementation of the changes.