Namibia is a member of ARIPO which means that all patents, designs or trade marks may be registered with the official intellectual property office of Namibia or with ARIPO. ARIPO requires the applicant to choose the specific member states where protection is required. ARIPO member states include Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Namibia is also a member of the Berne Convention which protects copyright and PCT applications are also available for patents. Intellectual property applications to be delivered or mailed to the ARIPO Office in Harare, Zimbabwe, or via the Industrial Property Office of Namibia.

For more information regarding intellectual property protection in other African countries, please visit our international website www.smitvanwyk.com.