INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN PORTUGUESE-SPEAKING AFRICAN COUNTRIES

The Portuguese-speaking African countries (Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe) are thriving markets which present attractive commercial and investment opportunities. Adequate protection of intellectual property is essential to make most of such opportunities and avoid unnecessary problems. The following posts deal with the characteristics of such protection in these countries.

ANGOLA	PATENTS	TRADEMARKS	DESIGNS
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS	Paris Convention, WIPO, PCT	Paris Convention WIPO	WIPO
DURATION	15 years	10 years	15 years
RENEWALS	Anually	Periods of 10 years	After 5 years for 2 more periods of 5 years each

CAPE VERDE	PATENTS	TRADEMARKS	DESIGNS
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS	WIPO	Paris Convention WIPO	WIPO
DURATION	NA	10 years	NA
RENEWALS	NA	Periods of 10 years	NA

GUINEA-BISSAU*	PATENTS	TRADEMARKS	DESIGNS
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS	Paris Convention, PCT	Paris Convention	Paris Convention, Hague Agreement
DURATION	20 years	10 years	15 years
RENEWALS	Anually	Periods of 10 years	After 5 years for 2 more periods of 5 years each

MOZAMBIQUE	PATENTS	TRADEMARKS	DESIGNS
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS	Paris Convention, WIPO, PCT, ARIPO	Paris Convention WIPO, Madrid Union, Madrid Protocol	Paris Convention, WIPO
DURATION	20 years	10 years	7 years
RENEWALS	Anually	Periods of 10 years	Anually

SÃO TOMÉ E PRÍNCIPE	PATENTS	TRADEMARKS	DESIGNS
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS	Paris Convention, WIPO, PCT	Paris Convention, WIPO	Paris Convention, WIPO
DURATION	20 years	10 years	15 years
RENEWALS	Anually	Periods of 10 years	After 5 years for 2 more periods of 5 years

* Guinea-Bissau is a member of OAPI (African Organization of Intellectual Property)