Overview
Zimbabwe protects trademarks, patents, and industrial designs through the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office (ZIPO). It is also a member of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), enabling applicants to file locally or via ARIPO protocols to cover multiple jurisdictions. This approach gives both local and foreign applicants flexible options when seeking IP protection in the country.
Zimbabwe’s IP regime is largely consistent with international standards. Once granted, IP rights may be enforced through administrative or judicial mechanisms, ensuring that rights holders can pursue claims against infringers.
International Conventions
Zimbabwe is a contracting party to several major IP treaties that shape its legal framework. These include:
Paris Convention
Berne Convention
TRIPS Agreement
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
IP office
Trademark applications in Zimbabwe typically follow a single-class filing system, meaning a separate application is required for each class of goods or services.
Applicants file with ZIPO, providing a clear depiction of the trademark and paying prescribed fees.
Exam checks for conflicts with prior marks and verifies that the trademark meets distinctiveness requirements.
Upon registration, trademarks are valid for 10 years, renewable for further 10-year periods.
Applicant details (name, address) and the specific class must be accurately provided.
Under the Banjul Protocol, ARIPO membership allows applicants to cover Zimbabwe and other member states with one regional filing if desired.
A registered trademark grants its owner exclusive rights in Zimbabwe, and legal action can be taken against unauthorized use in courts or through administrative channels.
Patents in Zimbabwe are granted for inventions that fulfill requirements of novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. Filings can be done directly with ZIPO or via ARIPO’s Harare Protocol for wider coverage.
A patent remains valid for 20 years from the filing date, subject to annual maintenance fees.
Applicants submit a specification, claims, and any relevant drawings or technical documentation.
A substantive examination ensures the invention meets local patentability standards.
Zimbabwe’s membership in the PCT lets foreign applicants enter the national phase after an international application.
Once granted, the patent holder has exclusive rights to exploit the invention domestically, with infringement claims heard by local courts when unapproved use arises.
Zimbabwe protects industrial designs focusing on the novel or ornamental features of a product. Applications may be filed with ZIPO or regionally through ARIPO protocols.
Applicants provide representations of the design and pay official fees.
Design protection generally starts with an initial term of 10 years, renewable once up to 15 years.
Applicants must accurately provide all relevant information to ensure valid registration.
A registered design confers exclusive rights in Zimbabwe, allowing the owner to stop unauthorized manufacture or sale of substantially similar products within the country.
