Overview
Zambia provides legal protection for trademarks, patents, and industrial designs under national legislation, administered by the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA). As a member of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), Zambia allows applicants to file either locally at PACRA or via ARIPO protocols, depending on their desired territorial coverage.
The country’s IP laws are aligned with widely recognized international standards, offering both domestic and foreign applicants a clear process to obtain and enforce IP rights. Infringements can be addressed through administrative measures or judicial proceedings, ensuring holders can effectively safeguard their innovations and creations.
International Conventions
Zambia is a party to several major global treaties that influence its IP framework, including:
Paris Convention
Berne Convention
TRIPS Agreement
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
IP office
Trademark registration in Zambia follows a single-class system, meaning applicants must file a separate application for each class of goods or services.
Applications are submitted to PACRA, including a clear reproduction of the trademark and payment of official fees.
A substantive examination reviews distinctiveness and potential conflicts with earlier marks.
Upon registration, trademarks are valid for an initial period of 7 years, renewable for successive 14-year periods.
Applicants must provide accurate details (name, address) and specify the relevant single class of goods or services.
After successful registration, trademark owners may pursue remedies under Zambian law if infringing use of their trademarks arises.
Patents in Zambia protect inventions that demonstrate novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. Applicants can file directly through PACRA or make use of ARIPO’s Harare Protocol for regional coverage.
The patent term is typically 16 years from the filing date, subject to annual maintenance fees.
Applicants submit a specification, claims, and supporting technical documentation.
A substantive examination is undertaken to confirm compliance with local patentability criteria.
Zambia’s status as a PCT contracting state allows international applicants to enter the national phase in Zambia after an international application.
Once granted, a patent confers the exclusive right to exploit the invention in Zambia, enabling owners to pursue legal action should unauthorized commercialization occur.
Industrial design protection in Zambia covers the novel ornamental or aesthetic attributes of an article. Registration may be sought locally at PACRA or regionally through ARIPO, if desired.
A formal application, including drawings or representations of the design, and payment of official fees are required.
Design registrations typically last for an initial term of five years, renewable twice for a total of 15 years.
Applicants must supply full and accurate contact and ownership details.
Once registered, industrial designs grant their holders the exclusive right to prevent unauthorized production, sale, or importation of goods closely imitating the protected design in Zambia.
