Legislative Implementation of Flexibilities - Cabo Verde

Title:	Article 267 (a), 268 (1), 269 and 275 to 279 of the Industrial Property Code (Decree-Law No. 4/2007 of 20/08/2007)
Field of IP:	Patents
Type of flexibility:	Criminal sanctions for patent infringement
Summary table:

Provisions of Law

Article 267

Crimes against industrial property

The following shall be crimes against industrial property, punishable under the terms of this Code:

(a) infringement of the exclusivity of a patent, utility model or semiconductor product topography;

Article 268

Penalties

1. Criminal offenses provided for under subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of Article 267 shall be punishable by a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine of up to 360 days.

Article 269

Complaint

The criminal proceedings relating to the crimes provided for in this Code shall depend on the complaint or participation.

Article 275

Preparation and trial of criminal cases

The preparation of the cases arising from the commission of the crimes provided for in this Code and the respective judgment shall follow the rules of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Article 276

Participants

In addition to the persons upon which the laws on criminal proceedings confer the right to participate in such proceedings, legally constituted entrepreneurial associations shall also be entitled to intervene in this capacity in the criminal proceedings provided for in this Code.

Article 277

Preparation and decision of criminal cases for infringement

Preparation and the application of the corresponding fines and additional penalties shall be within the remit of the General Inspectorate for Economic Activities.

Article 278

Appropriation of fines

Fines shall be distributed as follows:

(a) 60 per cent to the State;

(b) 20 per cent to the Directorate General for Economic Activities;

(c) 20 per cent to the organization responsible for industrial property.

Article 279

Subsidiary right

The Criminal Code and the general regulations relating to infringements, namely with respect to the criminal liability and liability in terms of administrative offenses of legal entities and vicarious liability shall be applicable as an alternative.