Mozambique will join the ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organization) system for trademarks and intends to implement the Banjul Protocol. This news was surprising to many despite the fact that the country has long been a member of the patent system.
This is great news for applicants who plan to apply for TM registration in several jurisdictions, as they can save a lot of money. The organization is also known for less bureaucracy. For example, Mozambique applications require that the power of attorney be certified by a notary, while in ARIPO, a power of attorney is needed only when registering trademarks.
If this material is of interest to you, and/or you are planning to register a trademark or patent in Africa, then you can get comprehensive advice on all issues from our experienced legal advisors specializing in African countries.
Systems to register IP in Africa
Obtaining national intellectual property rights in African countries is possible in two regional IP registration systems: the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).
The former is used mainly in African states where the official language is French. It covers obtaining patent protection in Africa, trademark registration in African countries, and obtaining ownership of designs in OAPI member countries.
The system creates an environment where the intellectual property owner receives protection immediately in all OAPI member countries through a single application. Such an application must be submitted to the organization head office in Cameroon.
On the other hand, ARIPO brings jurisdictions together for cooperation in IP matters and allows IP owners to register a trademark in some or all of the member countries as intended. It has long been applied in English-speaking countries until the first Portuguese-speaking country joined the system, and that was Mozambique.
Although the system is often used to register patents in Africa, it also extends to trademarks. Registration of TMs in ARIPO passes only a formal examination, the search for matches with previously registered TMs at the regional level is not carried out. You can order a TM analysis from the IQ Decision UK team and get recommendations to avoid possible risks.
Legal assistance
If you are interested in detailed information regarding ARIPO protocols, please contact our company experts for advice on the registration of intellectual property in Mozambique.
Our company’s services also include legal assistance in preparing the necessary documentation and applying for TM registration in Mozambique.
If you still have questions regarding the protection of IP rights in Mozambique, the registration of a trademark in Mozambique, our team will provide you with exhaustive answers in the course of an individual consultation in the field of IP rights in Africa.
Also, if you have a need to resolve a commercial dispute regarding intellectual property in African countries, our experienced specialists will conduct an individual consultation for you on dispute resolution on TM in African countries. Please contact us directly by filling out the form on the website.
