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ARIPO - African Regional Intellectual Property Organization is an intergovernmental organization that facilitates cooperation among its 22 African member states in the field of intellectual property. Established in 1976, ARIPO provides a centralized system for the registration and management of patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and other forms of intellectual property across its member countries. The organization operates under the Harare Protocol for patents and designs and the Banjul Protocol for trademarks, among others, offering a streamlined process for securing IP rights in multiple jurisdictions with a single application.
ARIPO - African Regional Intellectual Property Organization is an intergovernmental organization that facilitates cooperation among its 22 African member states in the field of intellectual property. Established in 1976, ARIPO provides a centralized system for the registration and management of patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and other forms of intellectual property across its member countries. The organization operates under the Harare Protocol for patents and designs and the Banjul Protocol for trademarks, among others, offering a streamlined process for securing IP rights in multiple jurisdictions with a single application.
Member States: Botswana, Cape Verde, Ghana, Kenya, Eswatini, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Member States: Botswana, Cape Verde, Ghana, Kenya, Eswatini, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Working Currency: United States Dollars (USD).
Working Currency: United States Dollars (USD).
Working Language: English.
Working Language: English.
International Treaties
International Treaties
Paris Convention • PCT
TRADEMARKS
TRADEMARKS
ARIPO Members with Trademark Protection - Botswana, Cape Verde, Eswatini, Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania (mainland), Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
ARIPO allows multiclass applications but certain ARIPO Members do not. This may impair the effectiveness and enforceability of multiclass ARIPO registrations that cover the Members in question.
Multiclass | Nice Classification Accepted | Paris Convention Priority | Non-use Cancellation - Depends on National Laws
➤ Types of Trademarks
• Goods and services
➤ ARIPO Regional Trademark Application Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of the applicant
• Full particulars of the trademark
• ARIPO Members party to the Banjul Protocol to be designated in the application (see list above)
• Declaration of Actual Use or Declaration of Intention to Use the Trademark
• Priority Document (certified copy) with notarised English translation (where applicable)
➤ Examination
• Absolute grounds (performed by ARIPO)
• Relative grounds (performed by each ARIPO Member designated in the application)
➤ Opposition
• Deadline - 3 months from the publication in the ARIPO Journal
• Procedure is governed by National Laws of ARIPO Members in respect of which the opposition is raised
➤ Granting and Validity
• 10 years from the filing date
➤ Renewal Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Late Renewal - 6 months after the validity deadline
• Restoration - 6 months of the removal of the Register
➤ Assignment Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of assignor and assignee
• Deed of Assignment (notarised) with notarised English translation
➤ Change of Name Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full previous and current particulars of applicant
• Certificate of Incorporation (notarised copy updated) with notarised English translation
➤ Change of Address Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with Portuguese translation
• Previous and current address of applicant
• Certificate of Incorporation (notarised copy updated) with notarised English translation
➤ Licence Requirements
• Power of Attorney from licensor and licensee (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of licensor and licensee
• Licence Agreement (notarised) with notarised English translation
PATENTS
PATENTS
ARIPO Members with Patent Protection - Botswana, Cape Verde, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé e Príncipe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania (mainland), Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
International Patent Classification | Paris Convention Priority | Working Requirement - Depends on National Laws
➤ Types of Patents
• ARIPO Regional Patent
• PCT Regional Phase
➤ ARIPO Regional Patent Application Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of the applicant and inventor
• Specifications, Claims, Drawings and Abstract in English
• ARIPO Members party to the Harare Protocol to be designated in the application (see list above)
• Deed of Assignment (notarised) with notarised English translation (where applicable)
• Priority Document (certified copy) with notarised English translation (where applicable)
➤ PCT Regional Phase Patent Application Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of the applicant and inventor
• Specifications, Claims, Drawings and Abstract in English
• Published International Application
• International Search Report and International Preliminary Report on Patentability
• ARIPO Members party to the Harare Protocol to be designated in the application (see list above)
• Deed of Assignment (notarised) with notarised English translation (where applicable)
• Priority Document (certified copy) with notarised English translation (where applicable)
➤ Examination
• Absolute grounds
• Relative grounds
➤ Opposition
• Not available - Harare Protocol does not provide for opposition by third parties
• Observations by Third Parties
• Deadline - from the publication date in the ARIPO Journal up to the granting or refusal of the registration
• Allowed Observations - novelty, inventive step, claim clarity, sufficiency of disclosure, patentability of subject matter and unallowable amendments
• Third Parties filing observations will not become a party to the proceedings
➤ Granting and Validity
• 20 years from the filing date or international filing date
➤ Renewal Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Late Renewal - 6 months after the validity deadline
• Revival - not available
➤ Assignment Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of assignor and assignee
• Deed of Assignment (notarised) with notarised English translation
➤ Change of Name Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full previous and current particulars of applicant
• Certificate of Incorporation (notarised copy updated) with notarised English translation
➤ Change of Address Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with Portuguese translation
• Previous and current address of applicant
• Certificate of Incorporation (notarised copy updated) with notarised English translation
➤ Licence Requirements
• Power of Attorney from licensor and licensee (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of licensor and licensee
• Licence Agreement (notarised) with notarised English translation
DESIGNS
DESIGNS
ARIPO Members with Design Protection - Botswana, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome e Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Single Design (1 design/product allowed in the application) | Paris Convention Priority | Locarno Classification (LOC) Accepted
➤ Types of Designs
• ARIPO Regional Design
➤ ARIPO Regional Design Application Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of the applicant and designer
• Graphic or photographic reproduction of the design
• Title and brief description of the design
• ARIPO Members party to the Harare Protocol to be designated in the application (see list above)
• Deed of Assignment (notarised) with notarised English translation (where applicable)
• Priority Document (certified copy) with notarised English translation (where applicable)
➤ Examination
• Absolute grounds
➤ Opposition
• Not available - Harare Protocol does not provide for opposition by third parties
➤ Granting and Validity
• 15 years from the filing date (except for designated ARIPO Members with a shorter term of protection, where the registration shall expire at end of term of protection provided for under their respective national design laws)
➤ Renewal Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Late Renewal - 6 months after the validity deadline
• Revival - not available
➤ Assignment Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of assignor and assignee
• Deed of Assignment (notarised) with notarised English translation
➤ Change of Name Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with English translation
• Full previous and current particulars of applicant
• Certificate of Incorporation (notarised copy updated) with notarised English translation
➤ Change of Address Requirements
• Power of Attorney (simple) with Portuguese translation
• Previous and current address of applicant
• Certificate of Incorporation (notarised copy updated) with notarised English translation
➤ Licence Requirements
• Power of Attorney from licensor and licensee (simple) with English translation
• Full particulars of licensor and licensee
• Licence Agreement (notarised) with notarised English translation
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