About Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, South Africa (CIPC)
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) is an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in South Africa. The CIPC was established by the Companies Act, 2008 (Act No. 71 of 2008) as a juristic person to function as an organ of state within the public administration, but as an institution outside the public service.
When the 2008 Companies Act came into effect on 1 May 2011, the CIPC was created from the merger of Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO) and the Office of Company and Intellectual Property Enforcement (OCIPE).
The CIPC is responsible for the following functions:
- Registration of Companies, Co-operatives and Intellectual Property Rights (trademarks, patents, designs and copyright) and maintenance thereof
- To disclose Information on its business registers
- To promote education and awareness of Company and Intellectual Property Law
- To promote compliance with relevant legislation
- Efficiently and effectively enforce relevant legislation
- Monitor compliance with, and contraventions of financial reporting standards, and make recommendations thereto to Financial Reporting Standards Council (FRSC)
- Licensing of Business rescue practitioners
- Report, research and advise the Minister on matters of national policy relating to company and intellectual property law.
[Compliances and Memberships/Affiliations]