3.       Establishment of Authority

            There is hereby established an Authority to be known as the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority which shall be a body corporate with a common seal, capable of suing and being sued and, subject to the provisions of this Act, of performing such acts as bodies corporate may, by law, perform.

4.       Seal of Authority

            (1) The seal of the Authority shall be such device as may be determined by the Authority and shall be kept by the Registrar General.

            (2) The affixing of the seal shall be authenticated by the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson and the Registrar General, or any other person authorised on that behalf by a resolution of the Board.

            (3) The Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Board may, in writing, delegate to another officer of the Authority, their power to authenticate the seal.

            (4) A document issued by the Authority and sealed with the seal of the Authority, which seal is authenticated in the manner approved by this section, shall be received and taken to be a true instrument without further proof unless the contrary is shown.

5.       Functions and powers of Authority

            The Authority shall-

     (a)     promote and enable the full protection of the rights of investors and right-holders, obtained under the Companies Act, Registration of Business Names Act, Industrial Property Act and Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act;

     (b)     advise Government and its agencies on all matters pertaining to companies, business names and intellectual property;

     (c)     be responsible for the overall implementation and administration of-

           (i)       the registration of companies under the Companies Act,

          (ii)       the registration of business names under the Registration of Business Names Act,

          (iii)       the registration of industrial property rights under the Industrial Property Act, and

         (iv)       copyright and neighbouring rights under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act;

     (d)     provide advanced information systems;

     (e)     organise outreach and awareness creation programmes to inform, educate and sensitise the public on matters relating to companies, business names and intellectual property; and

     (f)      advise the Minister on matters relating to the administration and registration of companies, business names, industrial property rights, and copyright and neighbouring rights.

6.       Principles of operation

            The Authority shall perform its functions in accordance with sound commercial and financial principles and shall ensure, as far as possible, that its revenue is sufficient to meet the expenditure properly chargeable to its revenue.