With effect from 24 September 2011, Rwanda will become a member
of ARIPO. Rwanda deposited its Instrument of Accession to ARIPO on
the 24th of June 2011 for the Harare Protocol. Rwanda becomes the
17th member state party to the Harare Protocol (patents, industrial
designs and utility models).
It will therefore be possible to designate Rwanda in an ARIPO
application filed on or after 24 September 2011.
As mentioned in our newsflash of 17 June 2011, the Republic of
Rwanda became the 144th PCT Contracting State on 31 May 2011. The
PCT will enter into force for Rwanda on 31 August 2011 and Rwanda
may be designated in PCT International applications as from this
date. Furthermore, the Republic of Rwanda also deposited its
Instrument of Accession to The Hague Agreement on 31 May 2011. The
Hague Agreement will take effect in Rwanda from 31 August 2011. The
Hague Agreement relates to the International Registration of
Industrial Designs. It is also known as the Hague system
