Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office


The Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office is a Barbadian governmental agency in charge of various aspects of industrial property right affairs including: patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. It is a division of the Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science & Technology, formerly known as the Ministry of Industry & International Business. Around 2010 Barbados was recognised for its ranking as one of the top countries where foreign patents are legally based. CAIPO's office was located on Belmont Road, and moved in March 2013 to Baobab Towers, in Warrens, Saint Michael.
In 2021 the body opened its corporate registry for online registration.
WWW caipo.gov.bb

Criticisms

In 2021 CAIPO faced criticism by some members of the public for the pace the body conducts its business.

National legislation

Corporate affairs in Barbados are covered by the following Acts:
  • Companies Act
  • Registration of Business Names Act
  • Bills of Sale Act
  • Small Business Development Act
  • Notarial acts
  • Public Documents Act
  • Pharmacy Act
  • Limited Partnerships Act
  • Registration of Newspapers Act
  • Trade Unions Act
Intellectual property in Barbados are covered by the following Acts:
  • Trademarks Act
  • Patents Act
  • Industrial Designs Act
At the international level, the department works very closely with the World Intellectual Property Organization and its subregional unit known as the Cooperation for Development Bureau for Latin American and Caribbean.

Treaties and conventions

Barbados is a signatory to the following copyright and intellectual property treaties and conventions influencing local laws:
'''Currently Barbados has yet to finalise or is absent from:'''

Domain names and trademarks

Additionally, CAIPO is entrusted with the handling of legal issues pertaining to Barbados' .bb ccTLD and second-level domains including:.co.bb,.com.bb,.net.bb,.org.bb,.info.bb,.store.bb,.tv.bb,.biz.bb.