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AfricanLaw Community
Questions & Answers from Africa's lawyers
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Community Q&A
Legal questions answered by practitioners
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votes
What is the legislation that governs ARIPO patents?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs of 1982.
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votes
What is the term of protection and renewal term for an ARIPO patent?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
20 years from the filing date or international filing date. Annuities fall due on the first anniversary of the filing date or international filing date. However, the national Patent laws in Lesotho, Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia do not specifically provide for a 20-year term for an AfricanLaw patent.
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votes
Can a patent be obtained for software/computer programmes in ARIPO or OAPI?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
Computer programmes are not patentable in both regions.
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Is there patent examination at ARIPO?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
Yes, there is formal and substantive examination.
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votes
Can an ARIPO patent be obtained for methods of treatment and /or a pharmaceutical product?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
Methods of treatment, surgery or diagnosis are not patentable. However, patent protection can be secured for pharmaceutical compounds.
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votes
What classification system does OAPI use for trademark filing?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
The International Classification system is applied, and multi-class filing is also possible.
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votes
What are the applicable international arrangements for OAPI trademarks?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
The Paris Convention and the Madrid System.
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votes
What categories of trademarks are provided for?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
In addition to ordinary trademarks, there is provision for collective, sound and certification marks.
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votes
What is the legislation that governs OAPI trademarks?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
The Bangui Agreement of 2 March 1977 on the creation of an African Intellectual Property Organization and its amendments.
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votes
Is online trademark searching available at OAPI?
AF
AfricanLaw
AfricanLaw Team
The Registry maintains an online database. However, this database is not available for non-official searching.
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