Intellectual Property

Africa

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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.

Madagascar, Patents, Trademarks

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. 

Zambia, Patents, Trademarks

Copyright

We provide comprehensive copyright legal services. Our attorneys can assist with all aspects of copyright, including proactive steps to protect copyright, transfer of ownership, commercial arrangements related to exploitation and enforcement, and any necessary filings.

Plant Breeders' Rights

Smit & Van Wyk is well-positioned to assist clients with the filing, prosecution, and enforcement of plant breeders’ rights. Our IP attorneys can advise clients on the best strategies for obtaining and maintaining plant breeders’ rights and can assist with any necessary filings or registrations.

Franchising

We understand that starting or buying a franchise can be an exciting yet complex process that requires the expertise of a franchise attorney. We have a team of qualified attorneys who are well-versed in the legal requirements of setting up legal documentation.

What We Can Do For You

Patents in Africa, Trademarks in Africa

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 Trademarks

ARIPO

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

OAPI

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

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,...

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...

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...

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...

Djibouti

Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...

Comoros

Intellectual Property in ComorosSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...

Chad

Intellectual Property in ChadSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of...

Cape Verde

Intellectual Property in Cape VerdeSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...

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

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

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...

Seychelles

Intellectual Property in SeychellesSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...

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...

Morocco

Intellectual Property in MoroccoSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...

Mauritius

Intellectual Property in MauritiusSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...

Namibia

Intellectual Property in NamibiaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...

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...

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...

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...

ARIPO Patents

ARIPO Patents & DesignsThe relevant protocol on patents and designs for...