Burundi

General Information

  • Area: Approximately 27 800 km2
  • Population: 9.9 million
  • Capital: Bujumbura
  • Currency:  Burundi Franc
  • GDP: $ 3.4 billion (2010)
  • Domain name extension: .bi
  • Languages: French, Kirundi (official languages), Swahili
  • Exports: Coffee; tea; cotton; hides and skins
  • Imports: Capital goods; petroleum products; foodstuffs; consumer goods

International / Regional conventions:

  • Paris Convention
  • WIPO Convention
  • WTO/TRIPS

Trade Mark Information

International and Regional Arrangements:

Madrid Agreement:      No

Paris Union:                Yes

Types of Trade Marks:

Goods and services

Collective marks

Certification Marks

No provision for Defensive Marks or Series 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 incorporating a French Translation

Representation of the mark

List of goods and / or services

Certified copy of the priority document with French translation

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:  No

ARIPO:  No

OAPI:  No

Filing Requirements:

French translation of specification, claims and abstract, formal drawings and classification (required on the day of filing)

International Patent Classification (required on day of filing);

Figure for publication (required on day of filing);

Original Power of Attorney, simply signed (can be filed within 2 months)

Statement providing proof of applicant’s right to apply for the patent (only if the applicant is not the inventor)

Assignment of Priority rights, simply signed with French translation (if applicant differs from priority applicant, can be filed within 2 months)

Copies of all communications relating to the results of any search or examination conducted in respect of the corresponding foreign applications

Certified priority document with verified French translation of the first page (can be filed within 2 months)

Novelty
Absolute novelty is required
Patentability
ethods of medical treatment, diagnosis or surgery are not patentable
Excess Fees:
The Regulations and official fees have not yet been established and at this stage it is not possible to confirm if fees will be incurred for additional pages and claims
Examination:
As to form only
Term of Patent:
20 years from the effective filing date
Renewals:
Annuities are payable in five-year blocks with the first block payment being payable from the first anniversary of the filing date