Democratic Republic of Congo

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General Information

  • Area: 2 345 000 km2
  • Population: 70.9 million
  • Capital:  Kinshasa
  • Currency: Congolese Franc
  • GDP: $ 22.92 billion (2010)
  • Domain name extension:  .cd
  • Languages: French (official language), Lingala, Kongo, Mongo, Swahili
  • Exports: Copper; petroleum; cobalt; diamonds; coffee; crude oil
  • Imports: Consumer goods; foodstuffs; mining and other machinery; transport equipment; fuel

International / Regional conventions:

  • Berne Convention
  • 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

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 incorporating a French Translation

Representation of the mark

List of goods and / or services

Certified copy of the priority document, with verified 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

Other: A patent can also be obtained by registering a granted foreign patent in the DRC

Filing Requirements:

For a convention application

Specification, claims, abstract and drawings (required on day of filing)

Power of Attorney in duplicate, simply signed (required on day of filing)

Deed of Assignment, notarised (required on day of filing)

French translation of Deed of Assignment (must be filed within 3 months)

Certified copy of priority document (required on day of filing)

French translations of specification (must be filed within 5 months)

For a patent of importation, based on a granted foreign patent

Specification, claims, abstract and drawings (required on day of filing)

Power of Attorney in duplicate, simply signed (required on day of filing)

Deed of Assignment, notarised (required on day of filing)

French translation of Deed of Assignment (must be filed within 3 months)

Certified copy of foreign granted patent (required on day of filing)

Verified French translation of foreign granted patent (must be filed within 3 months)

French translations of specification (must be filed within 5 months)

Novelty
Absolute novelty is required
Patentability
A pharmaceutical invention can only be patented if the object of the invention is a product, substance or composition that is introduced for the first time in the form of a pharmaceutical
Excess Fees:
Excess fees are incurred for claims in excess of 10, payable post filing
Examination:
As to form only. Amendments can only be filed within five months of the filing date
Term of Patent:
Generally 20 years from the effective filing date, but 15 years only for pharmaceutical inventions. A patent based on a foreign patent remains in force while the foreign patent is still in force
Renewals:
Payable annually in advance from the third anniversary of the filing date

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