Compliance & Legal Alerts

---

March 18, 2025 

The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) has issued a public notice regarding the procedures for trademark opposition. According to the notice, if there is any opposition to a trademark application, the opposing party has 60 days to file their objection with the relevant authority. This announcement is made in compliance with the Trademark Registration and Protection Proclamation.

EIPO has stated that such opposition notices will be published in the Intellectual Property Gazette or a widely circulated national newspaper, with the costs covered by the trademark applicant.

Additionally, EIPO has announced that starting from March 24, 2025 (Megabit 15, 2017 E.C.), trademark opposition notices will also be published on its official website (https://eipa.gov.et/) and social media page (https://www.facebook.com/eipa.gov.et/). These notices will also appear in the Intellectual Property Gazette, which is published every Friday.

EIPO emphasized that the 60-day opposition period will only begin from the date the notice is published in the Intellectual Property Gazette, not from the date it appears on the website or social media.

Source: Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO)

March 17, 2025

The Ethiopian Parliament has enacted a law establishing the Ethiopian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (EICPA) to address the critical shortage of certified professionals in the country. The new institute, overseen by the Accounting & Auditing Board of Ethiopia (AABE), will regulate, certify, and monitor accounting students and professionals, ensuring compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the standards of the International Federation of Accountants (IFA).

This legal update aims to strengthen Ethiopia’s financial reporting framework, particularly following the launch of the capital market, which requires listed companies to adhere to IFRS. The EICPA will also reduce reliance on foreign auditing services by building local capacity and aligning Ethiopia with regional standards.

Source: Ethiopian Parliament and AABE

March 17, 2025

The Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) has enacted a new directive imposing stringent penalties to ensure compliance with international financial standards and protect investor interests. This move is part of broader efforts to establish a reliable and efficient capital market as Ethiopia prepares to launch its first securities exchange.

Under the directive, entities that fail to resolve complaints within the specified timeframe or neglect to report unresolved issues to the authority will face fines of up to 500,000 birr, with an additional 10,000 birr charged for each day of non-compliance. Providing false or misleading information or transferring unauthorized securities from special funds will result in penalties ranging from 500,000 to 1 million birr.

The ECMA stated that these measures are essential to promote transparency, accountability, and investor confidence in Ethiopia’s emerging capital market. The authority emphasized that the penalties are designed to support the transition to a fully dematerialized securities environment and ensure adherence to regulatory standards.

Source: Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA)