Cape Verde Approves New Industrial Property Code

Cape Verde has enacted a new Industrial Property Code through Legislative Decree No. 2/2025, published on December 2, 2025. This legislation aims to modernize the country's industrial property framework, aligning it with international standards. Key changes include:

• Patent System Reorganization: Clarifies provisions for biotechnological inventions and computer programs with technical contributions.
• Protection of Unregistered Designs: Introduces automatic protection against copying for three years post-disclosure, benefiting industries with short product life cycles.
• Trademark Regime Simplification: Eliminates the requirement for graphic representation, facilitating the registration of non-traditional trademarks.
• Trade Secrets Protection: Explicitly safeguards confidential commercial information from unlawful acquisition, use, and disclosure.
• Judicial and Sanctioning Mechanisms: Strengthens measures to combat unfair competition and enhances the defense of industrial property rights.
• Digitalization of Procedures: Implements electronic submission of applications and digital processing, improving efficiency and accessibility.

The new code is set to enter into force on June 2, 2026, providing a six-month transition period for stakeholders to adapt to the updated regulations.

For more detailed information, refer to the official publication by Morais Leitão: Legal Alert | New Industrial Property Code of Cape Verde.