Zambia


Information on the filing of Patents, Designs and trademarks in Zambia

 

PATENT REGISTRATIONS

Zambia is a member of the International Convention, ARIPO, and of the PCT.

The requirements for filing a non-PCT application in Zambia are as follows:

(a) Power of Attorney (simply signed) - can be late filed, no set deadline;
(b) Specification, claims, drawings, and abstract in English - required on the day of filing;
(c) Assignment of Invention - can be late filed, no set deadline; and
(d) Priority document with verified English translation - can be late filed, no set deadline.

The requirements for filing a PCT application in ARIPO are as follows:

(i) Power of Attorney (simply signed) - can be late filed, no set deadline;
(ii) Specification, claims, drawings, and abstract in English - required on the day of filing;
(iii) Assignment of Invention - can be late filed, no set deadline;
(iv) Copy of PCT International advertisement - required on day of filing;
(v) Copy of International Search Report - can be late filed, no set deadline; and
(vi) Copy of International Preliminary Examination Report - can be late filed, no set deadline.

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TRADEMARK REGISTRATIONS

1. Filing requirements

1.1 Full name, street address and description of the applicant (including trading style, if any, and state/country of incorporation, if incorporated).
1.2 List of goods and/or services.
1.3 A simply signed power of attorney.
1.4 If priority is claimed: a certified copy of basic application.

2. Classification

2.1 International classification.

3. General

3.1 Duration : 7 years from date of application and renewable for further periods of 14 years.
3.2 Use : If a mark has not been used for a continuous period of 5 years, it can be removed.
3.3 Marking : Not necessary.
3.4 Licenses : Permitted.
3.5 Collective marks : Registrable.
3.6 Assignments of applications are permitted.

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DESIGN REGISTRATIONS

For registrability a design must be an industrial design and the applicant may be the author or an assignee.

Novelty is a requirement for registration, however, priority may be claimed within six months of the basic application.

Filing Requirements:

1. Application form, may be signed by agent;
2. Power of attorney, not legalized;
3. Assignment, where necessary;
4.identical representations;
5. Statement of features of novelty;
6. Priority documents (where necessary); these can be filed up to three months of filing of the application.
7. Amendments are possible before registration and there is no provision for opposition.

Duration of protection is five years from date of registration, however, protection can be extended for two additional five-year periods by payment of a renewal fee before the end of each 5 year term.

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