The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) is an intergovernmental organization for cooperation in matters related to patents, trademarks, industrial designs and other intellectual property rights, constituted by English speaking countries. The total number of members is 22, however, the members can decide on whether to sign or not a protocol under ARIPO’s legislation. Specifically regarding designs, ARIPO has the Harare Protocol in force in ARIPO, and counts with 20 members signatures.
The other ARIPO Member States that are Contracting Parties to the Harare Protocol are: Botswana, Cape Verde, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Design registration in ARIPO:
- Filing the Application: The design application must be submitted via e-filing, in person, through email, registered mail or courier.
- Formal Examination: the TMO conducts a formal examination to check if all required documents have been submitted and if the application meets formal requirements.
- Publication: Once the design passes the examination, it is published in the official bulletin for public inspection.
- Registration: Once the design is published, the application proceeds directly to the registration stage without any opposition period.
Required Documents:
- Power of Attorney (simply signed);
- Applicant Data;
- Graphical representation of the industrial designs to be registered;
- Assignment (if applicable) simply signed, with verified English translation;
- Copy of the Priority document (if applicable) certified;
- Fully completed request for registration of the design form (Form 28);
Time Frame of Design registration- ARIPO
Duration of the proceedings from first filing to registration is approximately 9 to 12 months.
Multiple Designs:
Multiple class design applications are not possible in ARIPO.