CIPC - Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (a member of the dtic Group)

VISION: To be the gateway to sustainable formal economic participation and investment for all in South Africa. MISSION: To unlock value in businesses and intellectual property by: • Providing easy, accessible and value-adding registration services for business entities, intellectual property rights holders and regulated practitioners; • Maintaining and disclosing secure, accurate, credible and relevant information regarding business entities, business rescue practitioners, corporate conduct and reputation, intellectual property rights and indigenous cultural expression; • Increasing awareness and knowledge of company and intellectual property laws, inclusive of the compliance obligations and opportunities for business entities and intellectual property rights holders to drive growth and sustainability, as well as the knowledge of the actual and potential impact of these laws in promoting the broader policy objectives of government; • Taking the necessary steps to visibly, effectively and efficiently monitor and enforce compliance with the laws that CIPC administers. FUNCTIONS: • Registration of Companies, Co-operatives and Intellectual Property Rights (trade marks, patents, designs and copyright) and maintenance thereof • Disclosure of Information on its business registers • Promotion of education and awareness of Company and Intellectual Property Law • Promotion of compliance with relevant legislation • Efficient and effective enforcement of relevant legislation • Monitoring compliance with and contraventions of financial reporting standards, and making recommendations thereto to Financial Reporting Standards Council (FRSC) • Licensing of Business rescue practitioners • Report, research and advise Minister on matters of national policy relating to company and intellectual property law