Yemen: MoFA Attestation for Powers of Attorney 

Please note that the Aden Trademarks Office now requires MoFA attestation for all powers of attorney prior to filing any trademark application or taking any post-registration actions. This new requirement aligns with the existing practice of the Trademarks Office in Sana’a, Yemen.

For your important information, please note the following:

  1. A single MoFA attestation of POA will be sufficient for use in both Sana’a and Aden.
  2. This attestation requirement is specifically applicable to POAs and does not extend to other IP -related documents such as Deeds of Assignment or Recordal Certificates.
  3. POA must be locally attested from the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) within one year of the Yemeni embassies’ legalization. Failure to do so will result in the MoFA refusing to legalize the document at which point a new POA is required.
Mauritius Joins ARIPO Harare Protocol:

The Republic of Mauritius officially deposited its instrument of Accession to the ARIPO Harare Protocol on Patents, Utility Models, and Industrial Designs on May 27, 2025. Effective August 27, 2025, the Harare Protocol will extend its reach to the Republic of Mauritius, making it the 21st contracting State. This significant development means that from August 27, 2025, applicants will be able to designate Mauritius in their ARIPO patent, industrial design, and utility model applications, streamlining intellectual property protection in Mauritius through the ARIPO system. Furthermore, registrants or applicants with pending ARIPO patent, utility model, or industrial design applications or registered designs and granted patents and utility models will also gain the ability to designate Mauritius, extending their intellectual property protection to the country. Moreover, Mauritian nationals and residents will also be entitled to file patent, industrial design, and utility model applications directly with the ARIPO Office from this date onward, streamlining the application process for these individuals.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that that Mauritius’s accession is specifically to the Harare Protocol, which governs patents, utility models, and industrial designs. Mauritius is currently still not a member of the Banjul Protocol, which operates under the ARIPO framework and governs trademarks.

A Successful INTA Annual Meeting 2025: Strengthening Connections and Forging New Paths

Finally, we are pleased to report on the highly successful conclusion of our participation in the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) Annual Meeting 2025, which took place from May 17-21 in San Diego, CA. USA. We were particularly delighted to reconnect with many of our cherished clients and long-standing associates, deeply appreciating the time you took to meet with us.

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who made our experience at INTA 2025 so rewarding; your continued trust and collaboration are highly valued. We look forward to leveraging these new insights and connections to benefit your intellectual property endeavors.