New IP law in DJIBOUTI

Natalia Pereira has kindly passed Afro Leo an announcement by WABAT DAOUD LAW FIRM about an exciting new IP development in DJIBOUTI (phonetically similar to a traditional SA dish)

"We have the advantage to inform you that the New Intellectual Property Law was adopted by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday 27th January 2009 .

We are now expecting the project to be voted by the House of Representatives this year , hopefully within 3 or 6 months time.

It is likely that this law will be passed without any addition or amendment to the text we provide you here attached for your consideration.

As from now, the Trade Ministry is urging to establish the IP Office and we are cooperating as counsel for the IP Office establishment and the Decree drafting."

A copy of the new law in French can be downloaded here.

A quick note to also draw your attention to Graeme's comprehensive comment on Jeremy's post immediately below concerning the upcoming copyright case on February 11th 2009 in the High Court, Johannesburg, namely Feldman D v SAMRO - Case # 06/22968. Graeme concludes that case(s) "should be of great interest to anyone wishing to see leading South African copyright Counsel grapple with both existing SA Copyright Law and a variety of music industry practices and beliefs."