Patent an idea or an invention in South Africa with the help of the patent attorneys at Smit & Van Wyk, Inc.

Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. attorneys specialize in patent applications, PCT filings, patent searches and patent renewals in most African countries including South Africa. Patent applications are filed with the CIPC in Pretoria, South Africa.

South Africa is a member of the Paris Convention and PCT
The deadline for filing PCT national phase applications is 31 months from the earliest priority date. The Registrar of Patents has a discretion to extend the national phase entry deadline by 3 months, on formal request made to him by the applicant.

Patent Requirements
Absolute novelty (new) – Disclosure anywhere in the world before the filing date of a South African patent application will destroy the novelty of your invention, thereby forfeiting your patent rights.
Susceptible to industrial application.
Must represent an inventive activity.

Patent Protection Duration
Non-PCT applications – 20 years from the South African filing date.
PCT national phase applications – 20 years from the filing date of the PCT International application.

Patent Renewals
No maintenance fees are payable on pending applications. Renewal fees become payable once the patent is granted. The first renewal fee falls due on the 1st anniversary of the filing date, and subsequent renewal fees are payable annually thereafter.