Some believe that there is a gap between traditional knowledge and western science which can be bridged. Both traditional knowledge and science deal with knowledge about the structure and behaviour of the natural and physical world, science is based on facts that can be proven for example by experim...

A geographical indication is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that origin. Generally, geographical indications include the name of the place of origin of the goods. Examples are “...

In countries where common law rights (for example rights acquired through use) are recognized, the law provides for rights to a trade mark to arise with or without registration and the rights generally accrue to the first person / entity to use the trademark. This isreferred to as the first-to-use s...

Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in Africa are governed by local laws, Regional or International legally binding instruments. Currently, there are two Regional IP bodies on the African Continent, namely the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the Organisation Africaine...

The story about the use of Ghana kente without consent in the Black Panther movie as narrated in both traditional and social media has drawn the needed interest to the subject of protecting Ghana’s Kente internationally. I must commend the Folklore Board for attempting to “stir the hornets’ ne...

Sports and sports business involves creativity and innovation and IP is all about encouraging and rewarding creativity and innovation by ensuring that investors and inventors/creators/innovators obtain the necessary economic/financial and moral benefits for their inventions, creativity and innovativ...

Who grants patents? A patent is granted by a national patent office (the Registrar-General’s Department) or by a regional office that does the work on behalf of a number of countries, such as the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO). ...

A patent is a document, issued, upon application, by a government office which describes an invention and creates a legal situation in which the patented invention can normally only be exploited (manufactured, used, sold, imported) with the authorization of the owner of the patent. It is an intangib...

An owner of a registered trademark must use the mark within Ghana or risk losing the protection granted by registration. The Trademarks Act grants a person interested in a trade mark to request the Registrar to remove a trade mark from the register because up to one month prior to filing for removal...

The Legal Period and Extension of Trademark Protection The period of protection is ten years from the filing date of the application for registration and the registration can be renewed for consecutive periods of ten years subject to payment of prescribed fees for renewal. The law requires that any ...