Overseas report: international treaties

Marrakesh Treaty (Access to Published Works for the Visually Impaired)

On 6 December 2022, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam deposited its instrument of accession to the Marrakesh Treaty. The Marrakesh Treaty will enter into force, with respect to Vietnam, on 6 March 2023.

Patent Cooperation Treaty (‘PCT’)

On 15 December 2022, the Government of the Republic of Mauritius deposited its instrument of accession to the PCT. The PCT will enter into force, with respect to Mauritius, on 15 March 2023.

Lisbon Agreement (Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications)

On 15 December 2022, the African Intellectual Property Organization (‘OAPI’) deposited its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement. The said instrument contained the following declarations:

• in accordance with Article 28(1)(iii), OAPI has been duly authorised, in accordance with its internal procedures, to become party to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement and declares that, pursuant to the Bangui Agreement Instituting an African Intellectual Property Organization, Act of 14 December 2015, Annex VI, under which regional titles of protection can be obtained in respect of geographical indications, applies;

• OAPI avails itself of the possibility provided for in Article 29(4) of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement to extend by one year the time limit referred to in Article 15(1) of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement, and the periods referred to in Article 17 of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement, in accordance with the procedures specified in the Common Regulations; and

• in accordance with Article 7(4), OAPI wants to receive an individual fee to cover its costs of substantive examination of each international registration.

The the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement will enter into force, with respect to OAPI, on 15 March 2023.

Dr Amanda R Gladwin (Fellow)