Ethiopia
Information on the filing of Patents, Designs and trademarks in Ethiopia

Designs

Patents

Trademarks

PATENT REGISTRATIONS

Patent protection in Ethiopia is available via a national filing.

According to our information, Ethiopia has not signed any reciprocity agreements as regards the claiming of priority. However, from previous cases filed for clients in Ethiopia, it appears that the Ethiopian Patent Office is prepared to recognise priority claims provided the application is filed within 12 months of the first claim to priority.

The requirements for filing an application in Ethiopia are as follows:

a) a power of attorney notarised and legalised up to Ethiopian consular level;
b) an assignment of invention notarised and legalised up to Ethiopian consular level;
c) a copy of the specification (including claims, abstract and drawings) in the English language; and
d) a certified copy of the priority application notarised and legalised up to Ethiopian consular level.

Whereas item c) is required upon filing, items a), b) and d) can be filed up to 30 days after the Ethiopian application filing date

The patent application is subject to substantive examination which usually takes place within 3 years after all the formal requirements have been satisfied. Substantive examination can be avoided and grant expedited by filing a copy of a patent granted on a corresponding application in another country. In this manner a patent can be granted within a period of less than a year after the application is filed.

The cost of filing a patent application in Ethiopia is currently in the region of between about US$ 2800.00 and US$ 3000.00.

DESIGN REGISTRATIONS

Design protection in Ethiopia is available. According to our information, Ethiopia has not signed any reciprocity agreements as regards the claiming of priority. However, from previous cases filed for clients in Ethiopia, it appears that the Ethiopian Patent Office is prepared to recognise priority claims provided the application is filed within 6 months of the first claim to priority.

The requirements for filing an application in Ethiopia are as follows:

a) a power of attorney notarised and legalised up to Ethiopian consular level - can be lodged within 1 month of the filing date of the Ethiopian application;
b) an assignment of design notarised and legalised up to Ethiopian consular level - can be lodged within 1 month of the filing date of the Ethiopian application;
c) 4 graphic representations or drawings - required on the day of filing;
d) a certified copy of the priority application notarised and legalised up to Ethiopian consular level - can be lodged within 1 month of the filing date of the Ethiopian application; and
e) a verified English translation of the priority application (if applicable) - can be lodged within 1 month of the filing date of the Ethiopian application.

The cost of filing a design application in Ethiopia is currently in the region of between about US$ 2800.00 and US$ 3000.00.

TRADEMARK REGISTRATIONS

1. Filing requirements

1..1 Full name, street address and description of the applicant (including trading style, if any, and state/country of incorporation, if incorporated).
1.2 List of goods and/or services.
1.3 A power of attorney, legalised and duly authenticated by the Ethiopian Consulate
1.4 Home registration certificate, legalised and authenticated up to the Ethiopian Consulate.

2. General

2.1 Duration : 6 years from filing date. Detailed cautionary notices must be published every 6 years and shorter cautionary notices every 2 years.

3. Classification

3.1 Multiclass - Yes

4. Costs

4.1 The average cost for registering one trade mark; including publishing a cautionary notice in a local newspaper is $3200.00.
4.2 Any number of classes may be advertised in one advertisement but the cost may vary according to the length of the advertisement. A registration certificate is issued one month after publication should no oppositions against the mark have been lodged.
4.3 The average cost for renewing one trade mark; including publishing a cautionary notice in a local newspaper is $2200.00
4.4 Search: From $510.00

*** Above quotations exclude courier charges ***

NEW TRADE MARK LAW IN ETHIOPIA

A new trademark law was published on 7 July 2006 whereby trade marks may be registered in Ethiopia. However, the Ethiopian Industrial Property Office will only make this law applicable once the regulations are promulgated. Until then, cautionary notices will be published as before.