Adams & Adams honoured by Mozambique Industrial Property Institute
25/06/2009

Mozambique recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Industrial Property system and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of an Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

Adams & Adams actively participated in the celebrations and was presented with an award for applying for the first trade mark in Mozambique (No 1/99) – that of the firm itself. Adams & Adams Chairman, Chris Job, accepted the award from the Minister of Industry and Commerce, at a Gala Dinner marking the occasion.

The South African and Mozambique practices of Adams & Adams sponsored a prize to the Mozambican student for the best dissertation submitted in IP law and to promote research in the area of IP law in Mozambique. Three Mozambican universities, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Universidade Politécnica and the Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique participated.

The winning dissertation, ‘The role of appellation of origin and geographical indications’ was entered by Simão Pelembe of the Universidade Politécnica. Chris Job presented the winning author with a US$1 000 prize at the Gala Dinner.

The two Adams & Adams offices also participated in a series of workshops held to mark the 10th anniversary at which two partners, Marilyn Krige and Dieter Welthagen, trade mark and patent attorneys respectively, presented papers.

Adams & Adams Mozambique was opened in Maputo about a year ago. Local partners are Élio Teixeira and Carlos Martins.

Filing of trade marks and patents in Mozambique has increased significantly over the last ten years, along with the economic development of Mozambique and also, for patents, at ARIPO, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization of which Mozambique is a member.

Following the events, Adams & Adams received a letter of thanks for its support from the Director General of the Industrial Property Institute, Mr Fernando dos Santos. Click here.