Liberia 

Liberia

Paths to protection

Ways to protect your invention

Patents are a way of protecting your inventions. By filing a successful patent you will be awarded a monopoly to exploit your invention for a period of time.

National Patents are the most effective way of defending your invention if you only require protection in a single jurisdiction. If this is not enough for your needs, this country has signed international agreements on patents, which facilitate their internationalization:

ARIPO

Allows for a single patent application to be effective across its designated members states

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PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty)

The PCT system allows simplified international patent applications which in turn eases national filings.

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Additional Information

Discuss your Intellectual Property Protection strategy with us

If you need to protect your Intellectual Property abroad, through our Global Network of offices and associates, we can make your Intellectual Property assets expand to every nation you desire, ensuring full legal protection of your rights.

If you have further questions, we would be delighted to schedule a conference call and answer any questions you may have.

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Liberia

Patent Details and Timeframes

Priority claim

Available

Substantive Examination

Available

Body responsible for non-use cancellations

IP Office

Time until registration

3 years

Opposition Period

2 months

Use Requirement Period

4 years

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National Filing Requirements

  •  Applicant data.
  •  Copy of priority document (if applicable).
  •  Patent title, abstract, description, claims and drawings.
  •  Deed of assignment, legalized.
  •  Power of attorney, legalized.
  •  Power of attorney, legalized.
  •  Power of attorney, simply signed.
  •  Deed of assignment, legalized.
  •  Power of attorney, simply signed.
  •  Certificate of change of name, legalized.
  •  Certificate of change of name, with verified English translation.
  •  Power of attorney, simply signed.
  •  Power of attorney from the licensor and licensee, simply signed.
  •  Licensing/Assignment agreement, legalized.
  •  License agreement, with verified English translation.

PCT Filing

  •  Applicant data.
  •  Copy of priority document (if applicable).
  •  Patent title, abstract, description, claims and drawings.
  •  International search report.
  •  Deed of assignment, legalized (if applicable).
  •  Power of attorney, legalized.
  •  Power of attorney, legalized.
  •  Licensing/Assignment agreement, legalized.
  •  Power of attorney, legalized.
  •  Certificate of change of name, legalized.
  •  Power of attorney, legalized.
  •  Certificate of change of address, legalized.
  •  Power of attorney, legalized.
  •  Power of attorney from the licensor and licensee, legalized.
  •  Licensing/Assignment agreement, legalized.

Latest news

ANNOUNCEMENT

New Intellectual Property Act in Liberia

The new Act was approved July 14th, 2016 by the House of Representatives of Liberia and was published past July 22nd, 2016. It is noteworthy that it has received unanimous approval by the Liberian legislators, a decision which was based on a report issued by a join commission with members of the areas of commerce, industry and justice. This Act is part of an effort to update IP provisions and protections, which is also confirmed by the recent adhesion to the Swakopmund Protocol on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore within the framework of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) on October 25, 2016. If the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf signs the Act, it will have the direct effect of revoking the Copyright Act approved in 1997 as well as the current IP Act of 2003. The new Act will encompass the regulation these two areas, codifying them in just one Act. The Director General of the Liberian IP Office has confirmed that, after the signature of the new Act, executive regulations will be promptly issued. One of the main motivations of this new Act was to clarify the practical and concrete applicability of the International Treaty to which Liberia belongs, taking into account that the legal effects of the Paris Convention, the Madrid Protocol and the ARIPO Protocols was dubious. As a confirmation, the President of the Committee that helped to approved this Act and member of the House of Representatives, has said that “The Liberia Intellectual Property Act will bring the country into full compliance with her international obligations”. The new act explicitly regulates the applicability of the Paris Convention, the Madrid System and the Protocols of Harare and Banjul. However, the new Act only clarifies to some extent the effectiveness of the International Treaties, taking into account that while the Banjul Protocol is defined in the definitions chapters, no more references are made to the thereof treaty. So, some doubts still exist in regards to the applicability of the Banjul Protocol in domestic law. There is also a new aspect of the Act that further regulates geographic indications, including their reach and exclusion of protection, establishing amongst others the application requirements. All things considered, the new Act will cover the protection of Copyright, Trademarks, Industrial Designs, Patents, Utility Models and layout-designs of integrated circuits. As concluding remarks, one would argue that while the new IP Act does not provide all the necessary answers, namely applicability of some international treaties, it will certainly provide a more clear response to some aspects of IP Protection in Liberia.

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