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GHANA


DEVELOPMENTS IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN GHANA


Regina Asiedu-Mante Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah


Ghana is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a signatory to WTO agreements on intellectual property (IP). Over the past decade, Ghana has made a conscious effort to enact legislation that provides protection for IP rights (IPR). Current IPR laws in Ghana are:


• Copyright Act, 2005; • Copyright Regulations 2010; • Geographical Indications Act, 2003; • Industrial Designs Act, 2003; • Layout Designs (Topographies) of Integrated Circuits Act, 2004; • Patent Act, 2003; and • Trademarks Act, 2004.


The Protection Against Unfair Competition Act, 2000, also gives trademarks some protection.


Swiss-Ghana project


In 2010 Ghana implemented the Swiss-Ghana Intellectual Property Project (SGIP). The SGIP is a collaboration between the Swiss Federal Institute of IP, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Justice. The objective of the SGIP is to ensure that IPR legislation in Ghana reflects the country’s international commitments under the WTO Agreement on the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).


One component of the project is the review of legislation related to IP and the drafting of accompanying regulations. In April 2010, the first stakeholders’ workshop was held to discuss the proposed changes to the Trademarks Act and the Industrial Design Act, and to review


136 World Intellectual Property Review e-Digest 2012


accompanying draft regulations. The second stakeholders’ workshop, in March 2011, was held to validate the reviewed Geographical Indications Act and the Plant Breeders Bill as well as its accompanying regulations.


Proposed amendment of the Trademarks Act


The existing act reflects the TRIPS requirements and standards, with a few minor deviations. The review focuses on improving the clarity of text and correcting minor deviations, taking into account current developments and the requirement of the government of Ghana to use trademark law as a tool for promoting public policies and economic development. An important rationale for the review of the act is that by adopting commitments under TRIPS, the Madrid Protocol and the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, owners and users of trademarks in Ghana will be able to register trademarks in member states and enjoy reciprocal treatment. The review proposes, for example, the need for expansion of the definition of trademark to include non-traditional marks and other types of marks which hitherto were not included in the definition.


Draft regulations under the Trademarks Act


The draft regulations carry into effect the provisions of the act for classification of goods and services for the purposes of registering trademarks, making or requiring duplicates of trademarks, securing and regulating the publication of trademarks, prescribing fees to be paid for application and registration, prescribing forms that are necessary for any of the purposes of the act and generally for any other matters placed under the direction or control of the registrar of trademarks.


Proposed amendment of the Industrial Designs Act


The recommendation from the review of the act is that opportunities need to be created for users and owners to benefit from the Hague


www.worldipreview.com


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