Subsection V
Legal Department
Article 18
Competences
The Legal Department shall be competent to:
a) provide legal advice to the DirectorGeneral of the IPI in the exercise of his duties and
ensure the legality of the actions taken by the IPI in the context of the granting and refusal of
industrial property rights;
b) issue opinions on relevant legal regulations;
c) in coordination with the officeholders of the bodies of the IPI, draw up regulations, draft
legislation, regulations, statutes, grounds for acceding to or ratifying agreements, and/or
protocols on industrial property;
d) take part in the negotiation of agreements, protocols and other legal instruments in
coordination with the DirectorGeneral;
e) represent the DirectorGeneral of the IPI in court in relation to any litigation or administrative
disputes that may arise from the actions of the IPI;
f) study and issue opinions on the legal regimes for the various forms of industrial property;
g) investigate the legislative measures concerning intellectual property, and in particular
industrial property;
h) compile and keep an uptodate database on intellectual property legislation, in particular
legislation on industrial property;
i) cooperate with the judicial and other competent bodies with regard to the development of
measures to prevent or punish unfair competition and counterfeiting in the sphere of the
usurpation of rights and the exclusive use of patents and distinctive commercial signs,
drafting opinions and reports and supplying any necessary information.
CHAPTER III
Financial and Administrative Management
Article 19
Legal regime
In the context of financial and administrative management, the IPI shall be governed by the
provisions of this Statute and other applicable legislation.
Article 20
Legallybinding acts in respect of the IPI
The IPI shall be bound by the signature of the DirectorGeneral.