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The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), is an organ of the state established on 1st May 2011 in terms of the Companies Act, 2008 (Act 71 of 2008) as entity within the Department of Trade and Industry. On its establishment CIPC merged the office of Companies and Intellectual Property Enforcement (OCIPE) which was a division with the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO).
The ultimate goal of the CIPC is to ensure that the regulatory framework for enterprises of all type and sizes, promotes growth, employment, innovation, stability, good governance, confidence and international competitiveness.
Main Functions /objectives of the Commission
• Registration of Companies, Co-operatives and Intellectual Property Rights (trade marks, patents, designs and copyright) and maintenance thereof
• Disclosure of Information on its business registers
• Promotion of education and awareness of Company and Intellectual Property Law
• Promotion of compliance with relevant legislation
• Efficient and effective enforcement of relevant legislation
• Monitoring compliance with and contraventions of financial reporting standards, and making recommendations thereto to Financial Reporting Standards Council (FRSC)
• Licensing of Business rescue practitioners
• Report, research and advise Minister on matters of national policy relating to company and intellectual property law
Performance Delivery Environment
Intellectual Property (IP) is one of the important tools to foster innovation, industrial development and economic growth. IP plays a crucial role in creation, dissemination and use of knowledge to maximise innovation. IP rights systems are continuously evolving as countries seek to balance the exclusive rights granted to inventors and benefits to the society.
South Africa has a strong culture of innovation, supported by a well –established research base. According to 2015 the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) global innovation index, the country was ranked 60th and 2nd in Africa.
The protection of intellectual property should contribute to the promotion of technological innovation and to the transfer and dissemination of technology.
IP Domains Protected under CIPC
• Trade mark
• Patents
• Design
• Copyright
Other services that enhance the protection of protected domains includes:
• Intellectual Property Enforcement
• Intellectual Property Compliance Campaign
• Intellectual Property Legislation
• Intellectual Property Portal
Annually on the 26th April CIPC celebrate the World Intellectual Property Day and co-hosts the WIPO Summers School annually with other partners like the WIPO, Department of Science and Technology’s NIPMO and academic institutions.