Government of The Bahamas

Assisting The Bahamas in drafting Intellectual Property Regulations to achieve WTO compliance

Client

Government of The Bahamas

Value

-

Service

Intellectual Property

Date Closed

Lead Office

Toronto

In the fall of 2017, the Government of The Bahamas retained intellectual property expert consultants to prepare draft regulations to accompany the new intellectual property statutes, drafted by the consultant and adopted in 2015, with an overarching purpose of amending the intellectual property laws of The Bahamas to meet its international obligations under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), to secure ascension to the World Trade Organization.

The draft Intellectual Property Regulations were publicly unveiled on January 30-31, 2018 during public and private stakeholder Consultation Workshops. The Consultation Workshops with stakeholders included widespread media coverage and invited input on many fundamental changes and additional protections for types of intellectual property to The Bahamas.

Some of the key regulatory changes that were embodied in the new legislation included the addition of a digital rights management regime for copyright, recognition of international patent applications, protection for confidential information in integrated circuits, allowing for the deposit of biological material, and new protection for plant varieties and added protection of geographical indications.

Government of The Bahamas retained as expert consultant May Cheng from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. Intellectual property articling student, Jaymie Maddox, assisted in the drafting of the IP regulations and participated in the Consultation Workshops.