Smit & Van Wyk deals with Intellectual Property in Africa. Our qualified patent, trademark and copyright lawyers have the knowledge, experience and resources to give expert legal advice regarding intellectual property portfolios. Our specialist team of IP lawyers will assist with patent (and PCT) applications in South Africa and across Africa as a whole. We can assist with the filing, prosecution and enforcement thereof. Our firm serves as a portal to the African continent for many foreign associates and multinational corporations. Smit & Van Wyk acts as a patent agent as well as a trade mark agent for the whole African continent (including in OAPI and ARIPO).
With a passion for development in Africa, our patent department has built a trusted network of African agents over the past decade which allows us to extend these service offerings across the African continent.
Our patents team specialise in the identification, protection, prosecution and enforcement of patents in Africa. Our registered patent attorney’s cover a number of technical disciplines, including: mechanical, electrical, electronic and software engineering as well as biotechnology, life sciences, pharmaceuticals and chemical engineering.
A PCT patent application will ensure that by filing one international patent application, that applicants can simultaneously seek protection for an invention in other PCT member countries.
The Paris Convention is an international agreement which helps creators ensure that their intellectual property is protected in other countries.
Our trade mark department consists of a team of skilled and qualified trade mark lawyers and paralegals who work closely with our clients to build interpersonal relationships and to structure the best bespoke trade mark filing programs suited to the client’s specific needs and requirements.
The Nice classification assists in filing a trade mark application for the correct goods and/or services as it is an international standard for the classification of goods and/or services. There is a total of 45 classes (34 goods classes and 11 service classes).
The Madrid Protocol is an international treaty designed to simplify the international trade mark registration process. Using this process, registrants are able to complete a single application, in their home language, that can then be applied to over 90 member countries. There are 38 African countries that are currently Madrid members.
What We Can Do For You

File in Africa
We provide a full range of Intellectual Property services in all African countries where protection is available. We can provide information on the filing requirements in each of the African countries and can also offer information on the various regional IP organisations such as ARIPO, OAPI and the Madrid protocol. We work with a network of trusted and knowledgeable agents to develop the best possible solution to each of our clients’ needs for trade marks, designs and patents in Africa.

ARIPO
We assist with the filing, prosecution and enforcement of your patents, designs and trade marks for all ARIPO member states.

OAPI
We assist with the filing, prosecution and enforcement of your patents, designs and trade marks for all OAPI member states.
International & Regional Systems
ARIPO
African Regional Intellectual Property Organization
OAPI
Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle
Madrid Protocol
International Registration of Trademarks
Hague Agreement
Registration of Industrial Designs
Paris Convention
Protection of Industrial Property
PCT
Patent Cooperation Treaty
African Countries To File In
Central African Republic Trade Marks
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Central African Republic Patents
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Central African Republic Designs
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Cameroon Trade Marks
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Cameroon Patents
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Cameroon Designs
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Burkina Faso Trade Marks
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Burkina Faso Patents
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Burkina Faso Designs
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Benin Patents
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Benin Designs
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Benin Trade Marks
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
South Sudan
There is currently no legislation in terms of Industrial Property in South...
Sudan
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Togo
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Uganda
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Zimbabwe
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Somaliland
There is currently no legislation in terms of Industrial Property in...
Sierra Leone
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
São Tomé and Príncipe
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property in São...
Rwanda
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Réunion
There is no independent Industrial Property legislation in Réunion Island as...
Niger
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Mauritania
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Mali
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Malawi
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Libya
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Liberia
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Lesotho
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Ivory Coast
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Guinea
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Guinea Bissau
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Gambia
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Gabon
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Ethiopia
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Eswatini
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Eritrea
There is currently no legislation in terms of Industrial Property in Eritrea...
Equatorial Guinea
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Djibouti
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Democratic Republic of Congo
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Congo, Republic of
Intellectual Property in the Republic of CongoSmit & Van Wyk assists with...
Comoros
Intellectual Property in ComorosSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Chad
Intellectual Property in ChadSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of...
Central African Republic
Intellectual Property in Central African RepublicSmit & Van Wyk assists...
Cape Verde
Intellectual Property in Cape VerdeSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Algeria Designs
Types of Designs: Industrial Designs Filing Requirements: Simply signed Power...
Algeria Patents
Types of Patents: Patents of Invention Patents of Addition National Phase PCT...
Algeria Trade Marks
Types of Trade Marks: Collective marks Standard marks Filing Requirements:...
Senegal
Intellectual Property in SenegalSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Cameroon
Intellectual Property in CameroonSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Burundi
Intellectual Property in BurundiSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Burkina Faso
Intellectual Property in Burkina FasoSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
South Africa Designs
South Africa registered designs are split into two sections. 1. Aesthetic...
South Africa Patents
South Africa patents have a duration of 20 years and annual renewal fees are...
South Africa Trademarks
South Africa trademarks are valid for 10 years from the filing date and are...
South Africa
Intellectual Property in South AfricaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Benin
Intellectual Property in BeninSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Tanzania
Intellectual Property in TanzaniaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Tunisia
Intellectual Property in TunisiaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Zanzibar Trademarks
Zanzibar trademarks are valid for 10 years from the filing date and are...
Zanzibar Patents
Zanzibar patents are valid for 10 years from the filing date and annual...
Zanzibar
Intellectual Property in ZanzibarSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Zambia
Intellectual Property in ZambiaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Madagascar
Intellectual Property in MadagascarSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Ghana
Intellectual Property in GhanaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Botswana
Intellectual Property in BotswanaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Algeria
Intellectual Property in AlgeriaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Madrid Protocol
The Madrid Protocol is an international treaty designed to simplify the...
Hague Agreement
The Hague Agreement is an organisation that facilitates registration and...
Seychelles Trademarks
Seychelles trademarks are valid for 7 years from the filing date and are...
Seychelles Patents
Seychelles patents have a duration of 20 years from date of filing and annual...
Seychelles
Intellectual Property in SeychellesSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Kenya Trademarks
Kenya trademarks are valid for 10 years from the filing date and are renewable...
Kenya Patents
Kenya patents have a duration of 20 years from date of filing. Kenya is a...
Kenya
Intellectual Property in KenyaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Mozambique
Intellectual Property in MozambiqueSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Mozambique Designs
Mozambique designs have an initial term of 5 years from date of filing, with...
Mozambique Trademarks
Mozambique Trademarks may be filed through the ARIPO union where the applicant...
Morocco
Intellectual Property in MoroccoSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Mauritius Designs
Mauritius designs have an initial term of 5 years from date of filing, with...
Mauritius
Intellectual Property in MauritiusSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Namibia Designs
Namibia designs have a duration of 15 years from date of filing. Annual...
Namibia
Intellectual Property in NamibiaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Mauritius Patents
Mauritius patents have a duration of 20 years from date of filing. Annual...
Egypt
Intellectual Property in EgyptSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Angola
Intellectual Property in AngolaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Nigeria Designs
Nigeria designs require absolute novelty, but unlike a patent, a design may be...
Angola Designs
Types of Designs: Industrial Designs Utility Model Filing Requirements: Power...
Nigeria
Intellectual Property in NigeriaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
OAPI Patents
OAPI is a signatory of the PCT. The Patent Cooperation Treaty ensures that by...
OAPI Trade Marks
OAPI is a member of the Madrid Protocol. The Madrid Protocol is an...
Nigeria Patents
Nigeria patents have a duration of 20 years from date of filing. Nigeria is a...
Morocco Patents
Morocco patents require absolute novelty and a substantive examination should...
Morocco Trademarks
Morocco trade marks are valid for 10 years from the filing date and are...
Nigeria Trademarks
Nigeria trademarks are valid for 7 years from the filing date and are...
Namibia Patents
Namibia Patents may be filed through the ARIPO union where the applicant may...
Egypt Patents
Egypt patents require a fully detailed description of the invention or utility...
Angola Patents
Types of Patents: Patents of Invention National Phase PCT Application Filing...
Egypt Trademarks
Egypt trademarks are valid for 10 years from the filing date and are renewable...
Mozambique Patents
Mozambique Patents have a duration of 20 years from date of...
ARIPO Patents
ARIPO Patents & DesignsThe relevant protocol on patents and designs for...
Mauritius Trademarks
Mauritius trademarks are valid for 10 years from the filing date and renewable...
Company Registration
Company Registration If you would like your business to transact in the formal...
ARIPO Trade Marks
The relevant protocol on trade marks for ARIPO is the Banjul Protocol. The...
Namibia Trademarks
Namibia Trademarks may be filed through the Business and Intellectual Property...
Angola Trade Marks
Types of Trade Marks: Standard marks Collective marks Filing Requirements:...