Rwanda

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General Information

  • Area: Approximately 26 000 km2
  • Population: 11 million
  • Capital: Kigali
  • Currency: Rwandan Franc
  • GDP:   $ 11.8 billion (2010)
  • Domain name extension: .rw
  • Languages: French, Kinyarwanda (official languages), English, Swahili
  • Exports: Coffee; tea; tin ore; hides
  • Imports:  Foodstuffs; machinery and equipment; steel; petroleum products; construction material

International / Regional conventions:

  • Berne Convention
  • Hague Agreement on Designs
  • Paris Convention
  • Patent Cooperation Treaty
  • Universal Copyright 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

Certification marks

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

A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation

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 30 months from the priority date)

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

OAPI:  No

Filing Requirements:

Published PCT application or specification, claims, abstract and drawings in English (French also acceptable but English preferred) (required on the day of filing)

Power of Attorney, notarised (required on day of filing)

Assignment of Invention (required on day of filing)

Certified priority document with verified English or French translation (must be filed within 3 months)

Novelty
Absolute novelty is required
Patentability
Methods of medical treatment, surgery and diagnosis are not patentable
Excess Fees:
None
Examination:
As to form only
Term of Patent:
20 years from the effective filing date
Renewals:
Payable annually from the first anniversary of the effective filing date

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