Business updates

The Cabinet of Ministers of the 5th of July 2019 has agreed to the introduction of the Industrial Property Bill into the National Assembly with the First Reading of the Bill expected on Tuesday 9^th of July 2019.

The main objects of the Bill are to expand the scope of protection of industrial property to cover utility models, layout-designs of integrated circuits, breeder’s rights and geographical indications, and thereby promote innovation and creativity. The New Bill also brings together under one enactment the provisions of the law relating to the protection of industrial property rights namely, patents, utility models, layout-designs of integrated circuits, breeder’s rights, industrial designs, marks, trade names and geographical indications.

The new Industrial Property Bill further makes provision for Mauritius to accede to the Patent Cooperation Treaty, for the filing of international patent applications, the Hague Agreement concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs and the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks.

Moreover, with the changing landscape in IP, the legislation further provides for the setting up of an Intellectual Property Council to ensure coordination among the public and private sectors in the formulation of intellectual property policies and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

The IP Bill has been a strategic request of the MCCI for a number of years to enable Mauritius to achieve the necessary eco-system to promote Innovation. The Industrial Property Bill, as presented to the National Assembly can be accessed here.