Botswana

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General Information

  • Area: Approximately 582 000 km2
  • Population: 2 million
  • Capital: Gaborone
  • Currency:  Pula
  • GDP: $ 26.5 billion (2010)
  • Domain name extension: .bw
  • Languages: English, Tswana (official languages)
  • Exports: Diamonds; copper; nickel; beef; soda ash; textiles
  • Imports: Foodstuffs; vehicles and transport equipment; textiles; petroleum products; wood and paper products; metal and metal products

International / Regional conventions:

  • Banjul Protocol (of ARIPO)
  • Berne Convention
  • Hague Agreement on Designs
  • Madrid Protocol on Marks
  • Paris Convention
  • Patent Cooperation Treaty
  • WIPO Convention
  • WIPO Copyright Treaty
  • WTO/TRIPS

Trade Mark Information

International and Regional Arrangements:

Madrid Agreement:      Yes

Paris Union:                Yes

Types of Trade Marks:

Goods and services

Collective marks

No provision for defensive marks

Classification:

The International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification) is applied.

Filing Requirements:

Particulars of Applicant (name, address and nationality)

Simply signed Power of Attorney

Representation of the mark

List of goods and / or services

Certified copy of the priority document

Duration:

The trade mark is registered 10 years from the filing date

Renewal:
Renewable every 10 years

Patent Information

International and Regional Arrangements:

Paris Convention: Yes

PCT: Yes (national phase deadline is 31 months from the priority date)

ARIPO: Yes (see ARIPO requirements for designating Botswana in an ARIPO application)

OAPI: No

Filing Requirements:

Published PCT application or English specification, claims and abstract (required on day of filing)

Power of Attorney, simply signed (can be late filed)

Assignment of Invention, simply signed (if not lodged during international phase) (can be late filed)

International Search Report and International Preliminary Report on Patentability (can be late filed)

Certified priority document (if not lodged during international phase), and a verified English translation thereof (can be filed within 3 months)

Novelty
Absolute novelty is required.
Patentability
Methods of medical treatment, surgery or diagnosis are not patentable
Excess Fees:
None
Examination:
Usually as to form only, but the Botswana Registry may submit the application to ARIPO for substantive examination (no additional fees will be payable)
Term of Patent:
20 years from the effective filing date
Renewals:
Payable annually in advance from the first anniversary of the effective filing date

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