Parliament approves legislative authorisation for the new Industrial Property Code

On Friday 27 June, the National Assembly approved the draft legislative authorisation enabling the Government to adopt a new Industrial Property Code, tabled by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Energy, Mr Alexandre Dias Monteiro.

In his speech, the Minister emphasised that the current Code, which has been in force since 2007, no longer meets the requirements of the national and international context, and that a far-reaching legislative reform is needed to reflect the innovations that have taken place in recent decades in the field of industrial property.

The new legislation aims to bring Cape Verde’s legal framework into line with the main international treaties to which the country has acceded, including the Paris Convention, the Madrid Protocol and the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Cape Verde has also acceded to the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and its protocols, thereby reinforcing its commitment to international best practice.

According to the minister, the aim is to modernise and strengthen the protection of intangible assets – such as patents, trade marks, designs, trade secrets and traditional cultural expressions – by providing the country with a robust legal framework that promotes innovation, competitiveness and sustainable economic development.

The proposal also includes measures to simplify and digitise procedures, strengthen enforcement and combat unfair competition, thereby facilitating access to the industrial property system for economic operators and promoting a more attractive business environment.

This legislative initiative forms part of the Government’s strategy to transform Cape Verde into an investment and export hub, by boosting the digital economy, knowledge and the country’s competitive position in the global market.

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