Parliament passes four Bills

Parliament on Thursday passed four bills after they had been taken through the third reading.

They are, the Payment Systems, Industrial Designs, the Geographical Indications and Patent Bills.

A memorandum accompanying the Payment Systems Bill said it would provide a sound basis for the operation of payment, clearing and settlement systems in Ghana.

There is at present no comprehensive law on the subject. Only scanty provision on it is found in clauses 3(b) and 45 of the Bank of Ghana Law, 1992 (PNDCL 291).

The memorandum said the introduction of the Payment Systems Bill "is a response by the government and the Bank of Ghana to a world-wide growing importance of electronic modes of payment, as well as the domestic needs to develop non-cash payment products and clearing systems in order to reduce over-dependence on cash payments in the economy."

The Industrial Designs Bill is to enhance the operation of the laws on the protection of industrial designs.

The definition of an industrial design includes everything, which in the appearance of a product causes an aesthetic impression, or anything, which gives an impression received by the sense of sight, could be an industrial design.

"Under the Bill, an industrial design could be registered if it is new and that it has not been disclosed to the public anywhere in the world and it is not contrary to public order or public morality," a memorandum accompanying the bill stated.

The purpose of the Patent Bill is to provide for the protection of patents. Under the Bill, the Patent Law, 1992 (PNDCL 305A), has been modernised and revised to bring it into conformity with the international obligations of Ghana under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of International Property Rights (TRIPS).

The Bill provides for the protection of inventions and other related matters. The Bill defines Patent as the title granted to protect an invention.

The Geographical Indications Bill is to provide protection of geographical indications, which complies with international obligations in the field of intellectual property.

Geographical Indications are applied to natural and agricultural products and the products of handicraft and industry, such as wood, sugar, fruits, wine, coffee, tea, tobacco, textile goods and woven goods.

Geographical indication does not only contribute to the reputation of a product but it creates good will among consumers and can assist immensely in export promotion.