Key Benefits:
19. Offices within Authority
The Authority shall comprise the following offices-
(a) the Companies and Business Names Office;
(b) the Industrial Property Office; and
(c) the Copyright Office.
20. Companies and Business Names Office
The Companies and Business Names Office shall-
(a) process applications made in terms of the Companies Act and Registration of Business Names Act;
(b) keep a register of registered business names in a prescribed form in which shall be entered such particulars as are required by the Registration of Business Names Act;
(c) take charge of, and be responsible for the safe custody of, all documents lodged with the Companies and Business Names Office under the Companies Act;
(d) examine and register all returns and other documents lodged with the Companies and Business Names Office;
(e) prescribe fees and conditions under which a person may consult, inspect or make a copy of, or obtain an extract from a document lodged and kept in the Companies and Business Names Office; and
(f) exercise any other powers-
(i) conferred on it by this Act or any other Act, or
(ii) which the Minister may by regulations prescribe.
21. Industrial Property Office
(1) The Industrial Property Office shall-
(a) process all applications made in terms of the Industrial Property Act;
(b) grant patents and utility model certificates;
(c) register industrial designs, marks and collective marks;
(d) register geographical indications, layout designs of integrated circuits, acts of unfair competition, traditional knowledge and handicrafts;
(e) administer granted patents and utility model certificates and registered industrial designs, marks and collective marks;
(f) establish and maintain a journal of industrial property in which the Industrial Property Office shall publish all matters that are required to be published under the Industrial Property Act;
(g) maintain separate registers for patents, utility model certificates, industrial designs and marks and shall, in a section of the register of marks created for that purpose, also register collective marks; and
(h) exercise any other powers-
(i) conferred on it by this Act or any other Act, or
(ii) which the Minister may by regulations prescribe.
(2) The Registrar shall enter in the registers under subsection (1) (g) such particulars as are required by the Industrial Property Act or other particulars that the Minister may prescribe under the Industrial Property Act.
(3) Any person may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, and in accordance with any conditions which may be prescribed, consult, inspect or make a copy of, or obtain an extract from, any register established and maintained under subsection (1) (g).
The Copyright Office shall-
(a) be responsible for all matters affecting copyright in Botswana;
(b) supervise the activities of the Copyright Society as provided for under section 36A of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act;
(c) maintain an effective database on copyright matters and on authors and their works;
(d) maintain a register of works published in Botswana;
(e) issue a licence, prescribed by the Minister, for the operation of the Copyright Society;
(f) design and issue the security device under section 35A of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act;
(g) administer the fund established under section 35G (2) of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act;
(h) be responsible for such matters related to copyright, as the Minister may direct for the better carrying out of the purposes and provisions of the Copyright and Neighbouring Act and this Act; and
(i) exercise any other powers-
(i) conferred on it by this Act or any other Act, or
(ii) which the Minister may by regulations prescribe.
