The Egyptian authorities have announced the creation of a new IP office, which will be known as the Egyptian Authority for Intellectual Property.*

The new authority will centralise IP protection and replace a number of existing offices, including the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, the Patent Office, and the Plant Varieties Protection Office.

The announcement goes on to say that the Egyptian Authority for Intellectual Property will be required to be fully functional within a period of one year from the date of enforcement of this law, although the Prime Minister will be able to extend this period for a further six months. A full timeline of anticipated developments will be announced in due course.

*The announcement was made in Law No. 163 of 2023, published in the Official Gazette No. 31 on 11 August 2023, establishing the Egyptian Authority for Intellectual Property