The intellectual Property Office of Papua New Guinea (IPOPNG) is located within the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA).
Who are we and what do we do?
The intellectual Property Office of Papua New Guinea (IPOPNG) is located within the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA). The IPOPNG is a division within the IPA. The IPOPNG deals with administration of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and intellectual property (IP) legislations in Papua New Guinea. The various IP legislations in Papua New Guinea include the Trade Marks Act, 1980 (Ch.385), Patents and Industrial Designs Act 2000, and Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2000.
What We Do
The Intellectual Property Office of Papua New Guinea ( IPOPNG) was formerly known as the Trade Marks Office of Papua New Guinea and was then solely responsible for the administration of trademarks registrations. This was due to the existence of the then only IP legislation, the Trade Marks Act (Ch.385) which was enacted in 1978 and entered into force in 1980.
As a consequence of our World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations, in 1999 the National Executive Council (NEC) decision (Decision No. 104/99) changed the name of the office to the Intellectual Property Office of PNG.
In addition to this change, the Patents & Industrial Designs Act 2000 and Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act 2000 were enacted. The office was given additional responsibilities to administer all IP laws.
Since then IPOPNG has become a fully fledged office within the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) with defined Units that deal with trademarks examination and registration, patents and industrial design examination and registration and providing advice on Copyrights.
Our Vision and Mission
IPOPNG strives to provide an (effective and adequate or balanced) intellectual property regime that encourages and promotes innovation and creativity. IPO has established 4 mission statements to realize its vision. These include:
IP Laws and Administrative Systems
The IPOPNG deals with administration of intellectual property rights (IPRs) and therefore administers intellectual property (IP) legislations in Papua New Guinea.
IPO administers registration of trademarks, patents and industrial designs and maintains Registries of these various IPRs. This framework is supported by established processes and procedures and a modern intellectual property rights granting/registration system known Intellectual Property Automation System (IPAS) administered and supported by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
This system enables full automation of the trade marks registration system and administrative functions for processing patent and industrial design applications and documents. It also enables digitization of all physical files and paper documents of trademarks, patents and industrial designs.
IPOPNG has the necessary capacity for trademarks administration whilst it receives technical support from the Intellectual Property Office of Australia (IP Australia) for patent administration particularly in relation to searching and substantive examination of patent applications. This arrangement is made possible through a bilateral cooperation arrangement between IPOPNG and IP Australia.
Membership to International Treaties & Conventions:
IPOPNG is a member or party to the following organizations or treaties/conventions:-
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – 10 June 1996
- World Trade Organization (WTO) – 9 June 1999
- Paris Convention – 15 July 1999
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) – 14 June 2003
Current Vacancies (No Vacancies)