Overview
Ethiopia provides legal mechanisms for protecting trademarks, patents, and industrial designs under the supervision of the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office. As Ethiopia is not a member of regional IP organizations such as ARIPO or OAPI, applications must be filed directly at the national office. Both local and foreign applicants benefit from a framework that adheres to widely recognized international standards.
While administrative procedures may take some time, Ethiopia’s approach to IP rights aims to ensure clear and enforceable protection. Rights holders have recourse to legal systems within the country, allowing them to defend their assets in cases of infringement or disputes over ownership.
International Conventions
Ethiopia has ratified various global treaties that influence its intellectual property environment. These include:
Paris Convention
Berne Convention
TRIPS Agreement
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Ethiopia is not a member state of ARIPO or OAPI.
IP office
Trademark applications in Ethiopia are filed at the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office, typically on a multi-class basis (one application can cover multiple classes of goods or services).
Applicants must file a clear depiction of the trademark and pay prescribed fees.
A substantive exam checks the trademark’s distinctiveness and potential conflicts with prior rights.
Registrations generally last for 7 years from the filing date and can be renewed for subsequent 7-year periods.
Applicants are required to provide accurate details, including name, address, and the class chosen for the goods or services.
Upon successful registration, the trademark owner has the exclusive right to use or license the mark in Ethiopia. Enforcement measures, including administrative and judicial actions, are available against unauthorized use.
Patent rights in Ethiopia are secured via filing an application with the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office. Patentable inventions must fulfill novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
The standard term of a patent is 15 years, calculated from the filing date, subject to annual maintenance fees.
It is possible to extend for an additional 5 years upon proof that the invention is being properly working in Ethiopia.
A full description of the invention and claims must be submitted, accompanied by relevant drawings if applicable.
A substantive exam is carried out to verify that all patentability requirements are satisfied.
Ethiopia’s membership in the Patent Cooperation Treaty allows foreign applicants to enter the national phase after filing an international application.
Once granted, the patent confers exclusive rights to the inventor, who may pursue legal remedies within Ethiopia if infringement occurs.
In Ethiopia, industrial design protection focuses on the unique, visual features of an article. Applications are filed at the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office.
Applicants must submit accurate representations of the design and pay requisite fees.
An industrial design is generally valid for an initial period of 5 years from the filing date, renewable once for a total of 10 years..
Applicants must provide comprehensive details to ensure proper examination.
Upon registration, the owner enjoys the exclusive right to prevent the manufacture, import, or sale of products embodying the protected design within Ethiopia.
This information does not constitute legal advice; it is for informational purposes only.
