Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Trade Marks Act, 2004 (Act 664)
Trade Marks Act, 2004 (Act 664)
Trade Marks Act, 2004 (Act 664)
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
7. Registration Certificate
17. Agency
21. Publication
27. Defences
33. Definition
51. Regulations
52. Interpretation
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1
Schedule 2
ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide for the protection of trade marks and for related matters.
Trade mark means any sign or combination of signs capable of distinguishing the goods or services
of one undertaking from the goods or services of other undertakings including words such as
personal names, letters, numerals and figurative elements.
A collective mark is a visible sign capable of distinguishing the origin or any other common
characteristic including the quality of goods or services of different enterprises which use the sign
under the control of a registered owner from the goods or services of other enterprises.
Registration of a trade mark by any person confers an exclusive right to the use of the trade mark
on the person.
(1) An application for the registration of a trade mark shall be filed with the Registrar and is subject
to the payment of the prescribed fee.
(2) The application shall be accompanied with a reproduction of the trade mark and a list of the
goods or services for which the registration of the trade mark is requested using the International
Classification.
(3) The application may contain a declaration claiming the priority of an earlier national
or regional application filed by the applicant or the predecessor in title of the applicant as provide
for in article 4 of the Paris Convention set out in Schedule 1
(4) Where the Registrar finds that the requirements under subsection (3) have not been met, the
declaration shall cease to have effect.
(b) it is incapable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from the goods
or services of another enterprise;
(d) it is likely to mislead the public or trade circles with particular reference to the
geographical origin of the goods or services, their nature or characteristics;
(g) the trade mark is identical to a trade mark of another owner already on the register or
identical to a trade mark the subject of an application with an earlier filing or priority date
for the same goods or services or closely related goods or services or if it resembles that
trade mark so closely that it is likely to deceive or cause confusion.
(1) The Registrar shall examine whether the application complies with the requirements of
(a) section 1;
(b) section 3;
(c) subsection (1) and (2) of section 4; and
(d) section 5.
(2) If the Registrar finds that the conditions in subsection (1) have been complied with, the
Registrar shall accept the application to be published so that any interested person may file a notice
of opposition to the registration within the prescribed period and in the prescribed manner.
(3) An interested party may give notice of opposition to the Registrar on the grounds that section
1 or one or more of the requirements of section 4 have not been complied with.
(4) The Registrar shall send the notice of opposition to the applicant and the applicant shall send
the Registrar in the prescribed manner within the prescribed period a counter-statement of the
grounds on which the applicant relies.
(5) If the applicant fails to respond to the notice of opposition the applicant shall be deemed to
have abandoned the application.
(6) The Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the person who filed the notice of
opposition and shall decide whether the trade mark should be registered after hearing the parties.
(7) The applicant has the same privileges and rights when an application is published and until the
registration of the trade mark as the applicant would have if the trade mark had been registered, it
shall however be a valid defence to an action in respect of an act done after the application was
published, if the alleged infringer establishes that the trade mark could not validly have been
registered at the time the act was done.
The Registrar shall register the trade mark, publish a reference to the registration and issue the
applicant with a certificate of registration if
(a) the registration has not been opposed within the prescribed time limit; or
(b) the registration has been opposed but the opposition was decided in favour of the
applicant.
(1) An application for registration of a collective mark shall designate the trade mark as a collective
mark and be accompanied with a copy of the regulations governing the use of the collective mark.
(3) The registered owner of a collective mark shall notify the Registrar of any changes made in the
regulations.
Section 9—Rights Conferred by Registration.
(1) A person other than a registered owner of a trade mark shall not use the mark in relation to any
goods or services for which the trade mark was registered without the agreement of the owner.
(2) The registered owner may institute court action against any person who infringes a registered
trade mark by
(b) performing acts which make it likely that infringement may occur.
(3) No person shall knowingly infringe the rights of the owner of a registered trade mark by using
a trade mark in relation to goods or services for which the trade mark was registered without the
consent of the owner.
(4) The right of the registered owner under this section shall, in addition to any other remedies,
extend to the use of a sign similar to the registered trade mark and use in relation to goods or
services similar to those for which the mark has been registered where confusion may arise in the
public.
(5) Where there is use of an identical sign for identical goods or services, a likelihood of confusion
shall be presumed.
(6) The rights conferred by registration of a mark shall not extend to acts in respect of articles
which have been put on the market in any country by the registered owner or with the consent of
the owner.
(7) Section 5(f) shall apply with such modification as may be required in any action instituted by
the owner of a well-known trade mark against any person in respect of the unlawful use of the
well-known trade mark.
(8) A person who infringes the right of a registered owner of a trade mark by knowingly using a
trade mark for goods or services without the consent of the registered owner commits an offences
and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 250 penalty units or a term of
imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both.
The registration of a trade mark is for a period of ten years from the filing date of the application
for registration.
(1) The registration of a trade mark may be renewed for consecutive periods of ten years upon
payment of the fee prescribed for renewal.
(2) A grace period of six months is allowed for the late payment of the renewal fee upon payment
of the prescribed surcharge.
(1) The High Court shall invalidate the registration of a trade mark if the person requesting the
invalidation proves that section 1 or any requirement of section 4 has not been complied with.
(2) The court may invalidate the registration of a trade mark if because of any act or inactivity of
the owner, it has become the common name in the trade for goods or services for which it is
registered.
(3) The invalidation of the trade mark is effective from the date of registration.
(4) The Registrar shall record the invalidation and publish the invalidation as soon as possible.
The High Court shall invalidate the registration of a collective mark if the person requesting the
invalidation proves that
(a) only the registered owner uses the trade mark to the exclusion of other enterprises;
(b) the registered owner permits the use of the trade mark in contravention of the
regulations of the collective mark; or
(c) the registered owner uses or permits the use of the trade mark in a manner likely to
deceive trade circles or the public as to the origin or any other common characteristics of
the goods or services concerned.
(1) A person interested in a trade mark may request the Registrar to remove a trade mark from the
register because up to one month prior to filing for removal, the trade mark had not been used by
the registered owner or a licensee for any of the goods or services in respect of which it was
registered for a continuous period of five years or longer.
(2) The trade mark shall not be removed from the register if it is shown that special circumstances
prevented the use of the trade mark and that there was no intention to abandon the trade mark in
respect of those goods or services.
(1) (a) A change in the ownership of a trade mark or of an application for registration of a trade
mark shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Registrar;
(b) a change in the ownership of a collective mark or of an application for the registration
of a collective mark shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Registrar.
(3) A third party shall not be affected by a change of ownership of a trade mark or collective mark
until the change of ownership has been filed with the Registrar.
(4) A change in the ownership of the registration of a trade mark or a collective mark shall not be
valid if it is likely to deceive or cause confusion with regard to the nature, origin, manufacturing
process, characteristics or suitability for the purpose of the goods or services to which the trade
mark or collective mark is applied.
(5) A change in the ownership of a trade name shall be in writing addressed to the Registrar when
an enterprise is being transferred or when part of the enterprise identified by that name is being
transferred.
(1) A licence contract concerning the registration of a trade mark or an application for registration
shall be submitted to the Registrar who shall keep its contents confidential but shall record it and
publish a reference to it.
(2) A licence contract shall not be valid against third parties until it has been filed with the
Registrar.
Section 17—Agency.
If the ordinary residence or principal place of business of an applicant under this Act is outside the
country, the applicant shall be represented by a legal practitioner resident and practising in the
country.
(1) There shall be a Trade Mark Registry which shall be located at the Registrar-General's
Department.
(2) The Registry shall be responsible for the registration of trade marks and for the administration
of registered marks.
(3) The Registry shall be headed by the Registrar-General who shall be assisted by such Assistant
Registrars as may be appointed in accordance with article 195 of the Constitution.
(4) The Registrar may delegate any functions of the office of the Registrar to an Assistant
Registrar.
Section 19—Register of Marks.
(2) Collective marks shall be registered in a special section of the register of trade marks.
(3) There shall be recorded in the register entries required under this Act.
(4) The register of trade marks shall be open to the public and any person may obtain an extract
from the register in accordance with this Act.
(1) A person aggrieved by the non-insertion, omission, an error or defect in an entry in the register
or by an entry that wrongly remains on the register may apply to the Registrar to make, expunge
or vary the entry but an application for rectification may not be made for any matter that affects
the validity of the registration of the trade mark.
(2) Where court proceedings have commenced concerning the trade mark, the application for
rectification of the register shall be made to the court.
(3) Where an application for rectification is made to the Registrar, the Registrar may refer the
application to the court at any stage during the proceedings before the Registrar.
(4) Where there is fraud in the registration, assignment or transmission of a registered trade mark,
the Registrar may apply to the court for rectification.
(5) A rectification order from the court shall direct that notice of the rectification be served in the
prescribed manner on the Registrar who shall comply with the notice.
(6) A registered owner or a person authorised by the owner may apply to the Registrar
(a) to correct an error or enter a change in the name, address or description of the registered
owner of a trade mark in the register;
(c) to strike out any goods or classes of goods from those in respect of which a mark is
registered; or
(d) to enter a disclaimer or memorandum relating to a trade mark which does not extend
the rights given by the existing registration of the mark.
(7) A licensee of a trade mark may correct an error or enter a change in the name, address or
description of the registered owner with the consent of the owner.
Section 21—Publication.
The Registrar shall cause to be published in the Gazette, or in an official Bulletin, and any print
media any publication required under this Act.
(2) The Registrar may extend the time for doing any act or taking any proceeding under this Act
upon notice to the parties concerned and on such terms as the Registrar may direct.
(1) A trade description is a description, statement or any other indication direct or indirect
(b) as to the standard of quality of any goods, according to a classification commonly used
or recognised in the trade; or
(c) as to the fitness for purposes, strength, performance or behaviour of any goods; or
(d) as to the place or country in which any goods were made or produced; or
and the use of a figure, word, or mark which, according to the custom of the trade, is commonly
taken to be an indication of any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (g) shall be deemed
to be a trade description within the meaning of this Act.
(a) it is likely to be misunderstood as, or mistaken for, an indication as to the same or some
other matter which would be false or misleading in a material respect with respect to the
goods to which the description is applied; and
(b) anything likely to be misunderstood as, or mistaken for, an indication of any of those
matters is for those purposes a trade description and includes an alteration of a trade
description whether by addition, effacement or otherwise where that alteration makes the
description false or misleading in a material respect; and
(c) the fact that a trade description is a trade mark or part of a trade mark shall not prevent
the trade description from being a false trade description.
(3) The provisions of this Act with respect to the application of a false trade description to goods
shall extend to the application to goods of any figures, words, or marks, or arrangement or a
combination of any of them, whether including a trade mark or not, as are reasonably likely to lead
persons to believe that the goods are the manufacture or merchandise of a person other than the
person whose manufacture or merchandise they really are.
(4) The provisions of this Act with respect to the application of a false trade description to goods,
or with respect to goods to which a false trade description is applied, shall extend to the application
to goods of any false name or initials of a person, and to goods with the false name or initials of a
person applied, in the same way as if the name or initials were a trade description.
(5) In subsection (4) the expression false name or initials means as applied to goods,
(a) any name which is or initials which are not a trade mark or part mark but is or are
identical with or a colourable imitation of the name or initials of a person carrying on
business in connection with goods of the same description, and not having authorised the
use of the name or initials, and
(b) any name which is or initials which are either those of a fictitious person or of a person
not in good faith carrying on business in connection with those goods.
(1) A person applies a trade mark, mark or trade description to goods who
(a) applies the trade mark, mark or trade description to goods directly or causes the trade
mark, mark or trade description to be applied to goods;
(b) applies it to a covering label, reel, or any other thing in which the goods are sold or
exposed or had in possession for the purpose of sale, trade, or manufacture; or
(c) places, encloses, or annexes any goods which are sold or exposed or had in possession
for the purpose of sale, trade, or manufacture, in, with, or to a covering, label, reel, or any
other thing to which a trade mark or trade description has been applied;
(d) uses a trade mark or mark or trade description in a manner likely to lead to the belief
that the goods in connection with which it is used are designed or described by that trade
mark or mark or trade description.
(2) A trade mark or mark or trade description is applied whether it is woven, impressed or
otherwise worked into, or annexed or affixed to the goods or to a covering, label, reel or any other
thing.
(3) Goods delivered in pursuance of a request made by reference to a trade mark or trade
description appearing in an advertisement, invoice, sign, list, business letter, business paper or any
other commercial communication, are, for the purposes of paragraph (d) of subsection (1), goods
in connection with which the trade mark or trade description is used.
(4) The particulars on the customs entry relating to any imported goods are, for the purposes of
this Act, a trade description applying to the goods.
(5) A person falsely applies a trade mark or mark to goods if without the consent of the owner of
a trade mark the trade or mark applied resembles the original as to be likely to deceive; but in a
prosecution for falsely applying a trade mark or mark to goods the burden of proving the assent of
the owner is on the defendant.
"covering" includes a stopper, cork, bottle, vessel, box, cover, capsule, case, frame or wrapper;
(a) Without the consent of the owner of the trade mark makes that trade mark or mark so
nearly resembling that trade mark as to be likely to deceive; or
(b) falsifies a genuine trade mark, whether by alteration, addition, effacement, or otherwise;
and a trade mark or mark so made or falsified is in this Act referred to as a "forged trade mark".
(2) In a prosecution for forging a trade mark, the burden of proving the consent of the owner lies
on the defendant.
(b) falsely apply to goods a trade mark or mark so nearly resembling a trade mark as to be
likely to deceive; or
(2) No person shall sell or expose for or possess for sale or for any purpose of trade or manufacture
any goods or things
(b) to which a trade mark or a mark so nearly resembling a trade mark as to be likely to
deceive is applied.
(3) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) and (2) commits an offence and is liable on
summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 500 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not
exceeding two years or to both.
(4) Where a person in convicted of an offence under this section the goods and things of any kind
by means of or in relation to which the offence is committed are liable, at the discretion of the
court, to be forfeited to the Republic.
Section 27—Defences.
(1) Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (1) of section 26, it is a good
defence if that person proves the act was done without the intent to defraud.
(2) Where a person is charged with an offence under paragraph (a), (b) or (d) of subsection (1) of
section 26, or under paragraph (f) of that subsection, it is a good defence if that person proves
(a) that being in the business of making articles or other instruments to make trade marks,
the person applied marks or descriptions to goods and was not interested in the goods for
profit or commission dependent on the sale of the goods;
(b) that reasonable precautions were taken against committing the offence charged; and
(c) that at the time of the commission of the alleged offence, there was no reason, as an
employee, to doubt the genuineness of the trade mark, mark, or trade description; and
(d) that the police officer was given the relevant information with respect to the persons on
whose behalf the trade mark, mark, or description was applied.
(3) Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (2) of section 26, it is good defence
for that person to prove
(a) that having taken reasonable precautions against committing an offence against this
Act, that person, did not at the time of the commission of the alleged offence have a reason
to doubt the genuineness of the trade mark, mark or trade description and that on demand
made by or on behalf of the police officer, gave the information that was required with
respect to the persons from whom the goods or things were obtained; or
(b) that otherwise that person had acted innocently.
(iii) details of the means of conveyance and expected date of arrival of the goods in
the country;
(b) deposit with the Commissioner such sum of money as the Commissioner may require
to cover expenses which may be incurred in the examination of goods under this Part.
(2) The Commissioner may require security from the informant to recover expenses, charges, costs
and damages incurred in respect of the detention and subsequent proceedings
(3) Failure to provide the security permits the Commissioner to refuse to detain the goods.
(6) An informant is a person other than a customs officer who has information about an offence
committed under this Part.
In a prosecution for an offence under this Act where goods are imported, evidence of the port of
shipment shall be prima facie evidence of the place of origin of the goods.
A prosecution for an offence against this Act shall not be commenced after the expiration of years
from the commission of the offence, or one year after the first discovery of the commission, by the
prosecutor, whichever occurs first.
The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (Management) Law, 1993 (P.N.D.C.L. 330) applies
to this Part with respect to the procedure for processing of unclaimed goods and the power of the
Commissioner in relation to imported goods not properly marked.
Section 33—Definition.
(1) The Registrar may award costs and direct how and by which parties they are to be paid in
proceedings under this Act.
(2) The order for costs may, by leave of the court, be enforced in the same manner as a judgment
or order of the court.
In legal proceedings relating to a registered trade mark including applications under section 20 of
this Act, the fact that a person is registered as owner of the trade mark shall be prima facie evidence
of the validity of the original registration of the trade mark and of subsequent assignments and
transmission of the trade mark.
(1) Where there is an issue about the validity of the registration of a registered trade mark in legal
proceedings, the court may certify validity in favour of the owner.
(2) In subsequent legal proceedings where validity is an issue, the owner of the trade mark is
entitled to costs, charges and expenses between legal practitioner and client on obtaining a final
order or judgment unless the court certifies otherwise.
(1) The Registrar shall be a party to proceedings by the plaintiff, appellant or applicant in which
the relief sought would affect the register and the Registrar shall appear and be heard.
(2) The court may direct the Registrar to appear in any legal proceedings before the court.
(3) The Registrar instead of appearing in court may submit a signed statement giving particulars
of the proceedings in relation to the matter in issue and any decision given affecting the matter and
the statement shall form part of the evidence in the proceeding.
Where an applicant has an option to make an application either to the court or to the Registrar
(a) the application shall be made to the court if an action concerning the trade mark in
question is before the Court; or
(b) Where the application is made to the Registrar, the Registrar may refer the application
to the court at any stage of the proceedings or may determine the question.
(1) Evidence shall be given by statutory declaration in any proceeding before the Registrar.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) the Registrar may take evidence on oath instead of or in
addition to a statutory declaration.
(3) The Registrar shall have the same powers to require the attendance of a witness, the production
of a document and the taking of evidence on oath as a court.
(4) A witness before the Registrar is entitled to the same immunities and privileges as if appearing
as a witness before the court and may be awarded the same allowances as a witness.
(5) A summons under this section for the attendance of a witness to give evidence or for the
production of a document shall be signed by the Registrar.
(c) does any other thing which would amount to contempt of court
the Registrar may certify the offence of that person under official seal to the court and the court
may take such measure as may be necessary as if the person is in contempt of court.
(1) a copy of any entry in the register, purporting to be certified and sealed with the official seal
of the Registrar shall be admissible in evidence in a court without further proof or production of
the original.
(2) A person may obtain a certified copy of an entry in the register from the Registrar on payment
of the prescribed fee.
A certificate purporting to be under the official seal of the Registrar shall be evidence of the action
taken by the Registrar.
A person who knowingly makes or causes a false entry to be made in the register commits an
offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 500 penalty units or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both.
(b) that a part of a registered trade mark is separately registered as a trade mark; or
(d) that the registration of a trade mark gives an exclusive right to its use taking into account
the limitations entered on the register
commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 250 penalty units
or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or to both and, in the case of a continuing
offence, a further fine not exceeding 25 penalty units for each day on which the offence continues.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the use in the country in relation to a trade mark of the word
"registered", or of any other word or of a symbol referring whether expressly or impliedly to
registration, shall be deemed to import a reference to registration in the register, except
(a) where that word or that symbol is used in physical association with words delineated in
characters at least as large as those in which that word or that symbol is delineated and
indicating that the reference is to registration as a mark under the law of a place outside the
country, where the registration referred to is in force;
(b) where that word is a word other than the word "registered" or that symbol itself indicates
that the reference is to the registration as described in paragraph (a); or
(c) where that word or that symbol is used in relation to a trade mark registered as a trade
mark under the law of a place outside the country and in relation to goods to be exported
to that place.
(1) Without limiting the provisions of the Flags and Arms Protection Act, 1959 (No.61), a person
shall not without lawful authority use any badge, seal, device, emblem or flag reserved by law for
the use of the Republic, the President, a Minister of State, the Armed Forces, any Ministry,
Department or Agency, any public officer or any member of the Armed Forces in such a manner
as to lead to the belief that the person is authorised to use that badge, seal, device, emblem or flag.
(2) Subsection (1) applies to the use of any badge, seal, device, emblem or flag closely resembling
the badge, seal, device, emblem or flag referred to in that subsection which is likely to deceive.
(3) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary
conviction to a fine not exceeding 250 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding
six months or to both and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding 25
penalty units for each day on which the offence continues or to imprisonment not exceeding three
months instead of a fine.
(1) Where in the course of trade a form of connection subsists between goods and the person who
has registered a trade mark in respect of the goods, the trade mark shall not be deemed to be likely
to cause deception or confusion.
(2) Subsection (1) operates on the ground that the trade mark has been or is used between the goods
and the person using the trade mark or a predecessor of that person whether or not a different form
of connection in the cause of trade subsisted or subsists.
(1) Where the relations between two or more persons jointly interested in a trade mark do not
permit the use of the trade mark by one of them except
(a) on behalf of both or all of them, or
(b) in relation to an article with which both or all of them are connected in the course of
trade
those persons may be registered as joint owners of the trade mark and this Act shall apply as if
those rights had been vested in a single person but the rights of any person registered as a joint
owner shall be deemed to be infringed by any of the other owners who uses the trade mark in
physical or other relation to goods in respect of which the trade mark is registered under this section
where both or all of the joint owners are not and have not been connected in the course of trade.
(2) Subject to subsection (1), this Act does not authorise the registration of two or more persons
who use a trade mark independently or propose to use it independently to be registered as joint
owners.
(1) No notice shall be entered in the register of any trust express, implied or constructive and the
Registrar shall not receive notice of a trust.
(2) Equities in respect of a trade mark may be enforced in the same manner as any other movable
property.
(a) and the body of persons is a body corporate other than a partnership, every director,
manager, secretary or an officer of similar status of that body corporate shall also be
deemed to be guilty of that offence, and
(b) in the case of a partnership, every partner or officer of similar status shall be deemed to
be guilty of that offence.
Section 51—Regulations.
The Minister may by legislative instrument, make Regulations for carrying into effect the
provisions of this Act and in particular
(a) for the classification of goods and services for the purposes of registration of trade
marks;
(b) for making or requiring duplicates of trade marks and other documents;
(c) to secure and regulate the publication of trade marks and other documents;
(d) to prescribe the fees to be paid for applications and registration and other matters and
the mode of payment of those fees;
(e) to prescribe periods for doing specific things under the Act;
(f) to prescribe such forms as may be necessary for any of the purposes of this Act;
(g) to regulate the business of the Registrar's office in relation to trade marks and any other
things placed under the direction or control of the Registrar; and
(2) The Minister responsible for trade may make regulations on the importation of goods with
fraudulent marks.
Section 52—Interpretation.
"manufacturer", "dealer", "trader" and "owner" includes any body of persons corporate or
unincorporated;
"Paris Convention" means the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of March
20th, 1883 as last revised;
"priority date" means the date of the earlier application that serves as the basis for the right of
priority provided for in the Paris Convention;
"trade name" means a name or designation which identifies and distinguishes an enterprise.
Section 53—Repeal and Savings.
(1) The Trade Marks Act, 1965 (Act 270) is hereby repealed.
(2) The Merchandise Marks Act, 1964 (Act 253) is hereby repealed.
(3) Notwithstanding the repeal of Act 270, a mark registered under Part A and B of the register
under that Act shall remain in force subject to section 3 and shall be deemed to have been registered
under this Act.
(4) Marks registered under Act 270 shall be due for renewal for a period of fourteen years from
the date of expiration of the original registration or of the last renewal of registration and upon
renewal shall be reclassified in accordance with the International Classification.
(5) Notwithstanding the repeal under subsection (1) any regulations made under Act 270 and in
force immediately before the coming into force of this Act shall continue in force as if made under
the corresponding provisions of this Act until revoked.
(6) The Merchandise Marks (Prohibited Goods) Regulations 32 1936 (Regulations No.33 of 1936)
are hereby revoked.
SCHEDULE I
Article 4
(Section 4(3))
A.—(1) Any person who has duly filed an application for a patent, or for the registration of a utility
model, or of an industrial design, or of a trademark, in one of the countries of the Union, or his
successor in title, shall enjoy, for the purpose of filing in the other countries, a right of priority
during the periods hereinafter fixed.
(2) Any filing that is equivalent to a regular national filing under the domestic legislation of any
country of the Union or under bilateral or multilateral treaties concluded between countries of the
Union shall be recognised as giving rise to the right of priority.
(3) By a regular national filing is meant any filing that is adequate to establish the date on which
the application was filed in the country concerned, whatever may be subsequent fate of the
application.
B.—Consequently, any subsequent filing in any of the other countries of the Union before the
expiration of the periods referred to above shall not be invalidated by reason of any acts
accomplished in the interval, in particular, another filing, the publication or exploitation of the
invention, the putting on sale of copies of the design, or the use of the mark, and such acts cannot
give rise to any third-party right or any right of personal possession. Rights acquired by third
parties before the date of the first application that serves as the basis of the right of priority are
reserved in accordance with the domestic legislation of each country of the Union.
C.—(1) The periods of priority referred to above shall be twelve months for patents ad utility
models, and six months for industrial designs and trademarks.
(2) These periods shall start from the date of filing of the first application; the day of filing shall
not be included in the period.
(3) If the last day of the period is an official holiday, or a day when the office is not open for the
filing of applications in the country where protection is claimed, the period shall be extended until
the first following working day.
(4) A subsequent application concerning the same object as a previous first application within the
meaning of paragraph (2), above, filed in the same country of the Union, shall be considered as
the first application, of which the filing date shall be the starting point of the period of priority, if,
at the time of filing the subsequent application, the said previous application has been withdrawn,
abandoned, or refused, without having been laid open to public inspection and without leaving any
rights outstanding, and if it has not yet served as a basis for claiming a right of priority. The
previous application may not thereafter serve as a basis for claiming a right of priority.
D.—(1) Any person desiring to take advantage of the priority of a previous filing shall be required
to make a declaration indicating the date of such filing and the country in which it was made. Each
country shall determine the latest date on which such declaration must be made.
(2) These particulars shall be mentioned in the publications issues by the competent authority, and
in particular in the patents and the specifications relating thereto.
(3) The countries of the Union may require any person making a declaration of priority to produce
a copy of the application (description, drawings, etc.) previously filed. The copy, certified as
correct by the authority which received such application, shall not require any authentication, and
may in any case be filed, without fee, at any time within three months of the filing of the subsequent
application. They may require it to be accompanied by a certificate from the same authority
showing the date of filing, and by a translation.
(4) No other formalities may be required for the declaration of priority at the time of filing the
application. Each country of the Union shall determine the consequences of failure to comply with
the formalities prescribed by this Article, but such consequences shall in no case go beyond the
loss of the right of priority.
E.—(1) Where an industrial design is filed in a country by virtue of a right of priority based on the
filing of a utility model, the period of priority shall be the same as that fixed for industrial designs.
(2) Furthermore, it is permissible to file a utility model in a country by virtue of a right of priority
based on the filing of a patent application, and vice versa.
F.—No country of the Union may refuse a priority or a patent application on the ground that the
applicant claims multiple priorities, even if they originate in different countries, or on the ground
that an application claiming one or more priorities contains one or more elements that were not
included in the application or applications whose priority is claimed, provided that, in both cases,
there is unity of invention within the meaning of the law of the country.
With respect to the elements not included in the application or applications whose priority is
claimed, the filing of the subsequent application shall give rise to a right of priority under ordinary
conditions.
G.—Priority may not be refused on the ground that certain elements of the invention for which
priority is claimed do not appear among the claims formulated in the application in the country of
origin, provided that the application documents as a whole specifically disclose such elements.
H.—(1) Applications for inventor's certificates filed in a country in which applicants have the right
to apply at their own option either for a patent or for an inventor's certificate shall give rise to the
right of priority provided for by this Article, under the same conditions and with the same effects
as applications for patents.
(2) In a country in which applicants have the right to apply at their own option either for a patent
or for an inventor's certificate, an applicant for an inventor's certificate shall, in accordance with
the provisions of this Article relating to patent applicants, enjoy a right of priority based on an
application for a patent, a utility model, or an inventor's certificate.
SCHEDULE 2
Section 28
FORM OF NOTICE
I...............................................................................................................................................(name)
of............................................................................................................................................(addres
s)
.....................................................................................................................................hereby
(description)
request that the goods specified and about to be imported into the country be detained by the
Commissioner of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service.
Particulars
1. Number of
packages.............................................................................................................................
2. Description of
goods............................................................................................................................
Signed......................................................
Witness to Signature................................
Date........................................................
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1. Supplementary appropriation for the financial year ending on 31st December, 2003
2. Commencement
SCHEDULE
Schedule
ACT
ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide for the withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of a sum of money in the
nature of supplementary appropriation to meet government expenditure for the financial year that
ended on 31st December, 2003.
WHEREAS the expenditure of Government for the financial year 2003 exceeded the amount
appropriated by the Appropriation Act, 2003 (Act 643) by an amount of nine hundred and nine
billion, one hundred and eighty million cedis (¢909,180,000,000).
WHEREAS article 179 clause (8) of the Constitution provides that where in any financial year it
is found that the amount of money appropriated by the Appropriation Act for the financial year is
insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no sum of money has
been appropriated, a supplementary estimate showing the sum of money required, shall be laid
before Parliament for approval:
AND WHEREAS article 179 clause (9) further provides that where a supplementary estimate has
been approved by Parliament, a Supplementary Appropriation Bill in respect of the additional
expenditure shall be introduced in Parliament in the next financial year:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by Parliament as follows:
Section 1—Supplementary appropriation for the financial year ending on 31st December, 2003
The additional sum of nine hundred and nine billion, one hundred and eighty million cedis
(¢909,180,000,000) shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund for the purposes specified in the
Schedule to this Act being the supplementary estimates laid before Parliament by the Minister
responsible for Finance and approved by Parliament on the 4th day of November, 2003.
Section 2—Commencement
This Act shall be deemed to have come into force on the 4th day of November, 2003
SCHEDULE
Sub-
Total
MDAs P.E. Admin. Service Investm. Total GoG Total Donor (GoG &
Donor) P.E. Admin. Serv. Inv. Sub-
Office of Government
Machinery 160,578 26,397 122,932 11,552 321,459 22,464
343,923 - 4,350 19,400 - 23,750 367,673
Ministry of Foreign
Affairs 227,520 65,000 13,480 16,000 322,000 - 322,00
0 - 50,000 - - 50,000 372,000
Ministry of Finance and Economic
Planning 73,207 27,684 23,928 18,422 143,241 88,006
231,247 2,440 3,413 3,000 - 8,853 240,100
Ministry of Parliamentary
Affairs 156 487 639 203 1,485 194 1,679 - - - - -
1,679
Audit Service
40,368 10,000 19,000 9,000 78,368 4,648 83,016 - 300
- - 300 83,316
Public Services
Commission 1,234 700 350 450 2,734 - 2,734 - - - -
- 2,734
Electoral
Commission 16,537 5,371 9,500 1,408 32,816 - 32,816 -
- - - - 32,816
Office of
Parliament 29,664 25,000 26,000 5,000 85,664 - 85,664
- - - 7,000 7,000 92,664
Ministry of
Information 61,729 10,029 12,000 3,500 87,258 - 87,25
8 - - - - - 87,258
Ministry of
Energy 8,615 5,259 6,553 8,232 28,659 120,377 149,036 - - -
- - 149,036
Ministry of
Mines 9,826 2,522 2,504 668 15,520 4,222 19,741 - - -
- - 19,741
National Commission on
Culture 14,296 3,406 2,010 525 20,237 - 20,237 - -
- - - 20,237
Ministry of
Health 735,696 70,612 70,519 16,587 893,413 261,205
1,154,618 18,096 700 - - 18,796 1,173,414
National Media
Commission 251 650 208 12 1.121 - 1,121 - - - -
- 1,121
Public Safety
871,395 172,136 98,284 39,105 1,180,919 41,055 1,221,974
255 3,800 15,125 - 19,180 1,241,154
Ministry of
Justice 14,242 8,000 4,034 2,559 28,835 8,482 37,317 - - -
- - 37,317
Judicial
Service 68,171 12,000 4,000 11,749 95,920 - 95,920
- - - - - 95,920
Ministry of
Interior 435,388 102,580 43,200 10,918 592,087 32,573
624,660 255 3,800 125 - 4,180 628,840
Revenue
Agencies 205,065 50,790 24,486 51,384 331,726 - 331,7
26 - - - - - 331,726
Revenue
Agencies 205,065 50,790 24,486 51,384 331,726 - 331,7
26 - - - - - 331,726
Grand
Total 5,449,999 1,066,584 804,616 477,400 7,798,600 2,643,500 1
0,442,100 126,000 100,000 75,500 32,494 333,994 10,776,094
G O G D O N O R (in Million
Cedis) Grand Total
Office of Government
Machinery 0 4,350 19,400 0 23,750 0 0 0 0 0
23,750
01O General
Administration 0 2,100 0 0 2,100 0 0 0 0 0
2,100
03O Vice-President's
Secretariat 0 2,000 0 0 2,000 0 0 0 0 0 2,000
243 Scholarships
Secretariat 0 0 17,000 0 17,000 0 0 0 0
0 17,000
01O General
Administration 0 0 17,000 0 17,000 0 0 0
0 0 17,000
Ministry of Foreign
Affairs 0 50,000 0 0 50,000 0 0 0 0 0
50,000
340 Finance
Headquarters 0 0 3,000 0 3,000 0 0 0 0 0 3,000
601 Audit
Service 0 300 0 0 300 0 0 0 0 0 300
Office of
Parliament 0 0 0 7,000 7,000 0 0 0 0 0 7,000
604 Office of
Parliament 0 0 0 7,000 7,000 0 0 0 0 0 7,000
01O General
Administration 0 0 0 7,000 7,000 0 0 0 0 0
7,000
G O G D O N O R (in Million Cedis
Grand Total)
001
Headquarters 0 0 0 1,500 1,500 0 0 0 0 0 1,500
01O General
Administration 0 0 0 1,500 1,500 0 0 0 0 0
1,500
060
Headquarters 0 0 1,176 0 1,176 0 0 0 0 0 1,176
01S
Secretariat 4,040 0 0 0 4,040 0 0 0 0 0 4,040
G O G D O N O R (in Million
Cedis) Grand Total
G O G D O N O R (in Million
Cedis) Grand Total
283 Transport
Department 23 0 9,400 0 9,423 0 0 0 0 0 9,423
G O G D O N O R (in Million
Cedis) Grand Total
141 GES
Headquarters 78,142 1,000 0 0 79,142 0 0 0 0
0 79,142
G O G D O N O R (in Million
Cedis) Grand Total
Ministry of
Health 18,096 700 0 0 1,796 0 0 0 0 0 18,79
6
160 Health
Headquarters 18,096 500 0 0 18,096 0 0 0 0
0 18,596
G O G D O N O R (in Million
Cedis) Grand Total
Ministry of
Defence 0 0 15,000 0 15,000 0 0 0 0 0
15,000
11O Military
Hospital 0 0 15,000 0 15,000 0 0 0 0
0 15,000
G O G D O N O R (in Million
Cedis) Grand Total
P.E. Admin. Service Investm. Total
GoG P.E. Admin. Service Investm. Total Donor (GoG && Donor)
Ministry of
Interior 255 3,800 125 0 180 0 0 0 0 0 180
200 Interior
Headquarters 0 0 125 0 125 0 0 0 0 0 125
01O General
Administration 0 0 125 0 125 0 0 0 0 0
125
01O General
Administration 255 0 0 0 255 0 0 0 0 0
255
900
Contingency 504 36,437 27,399 23,115 87,455 0 0
0 0 0 87,455
01O
Contingency 504 36,437 27,399 23,115 87,455 0 0 0
0 0 87,455
Grand
Totals 126,000 100,000 75,500 32,494 333,994 0 0 0
0 0 333,994