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ARTICLE · 11 JUNE 2025

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ARIPO 2025: Key Changes To Patents And Designs

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As of March 1, 2025, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has enacted a series of major amendments to its governing legal instrument, the Harare Protocol...

South AfricaIntellectual Property
Inês Sequeira
Inês Sequeira

As of March 1, 2025, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has enacted a series of major amendments to its governing legal instrument, the Harare Protocol, which regulates the procedure for the protection of patents and industrial designs among its member states.

These changes, announced earlier in the year by ARIPO director general Bemanya Twebaze, affect not only the substantive examination and administrative procedures but also introduce significant revisions to the official fee structure applicable to patents and industrial designs.

With ARIPO increasingly recognised as a central platform for intellectual property protection in Africa, these adjustments represent a pivotal shift in how regional IP rights are pursued and maintained. For applicants, agents, and legal practitioners, understanding the scope and implications of these reforms is critical for effective portfolio management.

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