The Southern African Customs Union and Lesotho's industrial property regime

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	The Southern African Customs Union and Lesotho's industrial property regime
Author:	Kumar, Umesh
Year:	1988
Periodical:	Lesotho Law Journal: A Journal of Law and Development
Volume:	4
Issue:	1
Pages:	181-196
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Southern Africa Lesotho
Subjects:	SACU patents
Abstract:	Industrial designs cannot be protected in Lesotho at the moment due to the fact that the relevant legislation was repealed but nothing was put in its place. Regulations to carry out the provisions of the Patents Act, 1984, and the Trade Marks Act, 1984, have never been made. These two statutes are ripe for repeal and Lesotho is reportedly considering establishing a new industrial property regime based on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) model law for developing countries. Under the proposed legislation, Lesotho shall have its own independent industrial property regime. Once Lesotho - and eventually also Botswana and Swaziland - establishes its own and independent, national industrial property regime, the free interchange of goods and services as provided for in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), whose membership comprises the BLS countries together with South Africa, may no longer be assured. Notes, ref.