Sierra-Leone

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General Information

  • Area: Approximately 71 800 km2
  • Population: 5.2 million
  • Capital: Freetown
  • Currency: Leone
  • GDP:   $ 4.8 billion (2010)
  • Domain name extension: .sl
  • Languages: English (official language)
  • Exports: Coffee; cocoa beans; diamonds; rutile; fish
  • Imports:  Machinery; transport equipment; foodstuffs; fuel and lubricants

International / Regional conventions:

  • Madrid Agreement  on Marks
  • Madrid Protocol on Marks
  • Paris Convention
  • Patent Cooperation Treaty
  • WIPO Convention
  • WTO/TRIPS

Trade Mark Information

International and Regional Arrangements:
  • Madrid Agreement:      Yes
  • Paris Union:     Yes
Types of Trade Marks:

Goods marks

Series marks

No provision for defensive marks or service marks

Classification:

The Old British classification of 50 goods classes 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 a UK Registration (if the application is filed for cotton goods)

Duration:

The trade mark is registered 14 years from the filing date

Renewal:
Renewable every 14 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 Sierra Leone in an ARIPO application)

OAPI:  No

Other:  A patent may also be obtained by registering a granted UK patent in Sierra Leone within 3 years of the grant date of the UK patent

Filing Requirements:

For registration of a granted UK patent

  • Power of Attorney, simply signed (required on the day of filing)
  • Two copies of the granted UK patent (required on the day of filing)
  • Certificate from the British Comptroller giving particulars of the granted UK patent

For a convention or PCT application

  • The law has not yet been amended to allow for these applications. The Registrar is allowing PCT applications to be filed, but these will only be processed to grant once new legislation has been enacted
Novelty
N/A
Patentability
Methods of medical treatment, surgery or diagnosis are not patentable
Excess Fees:
None
Examination:
As to form only
Term of Patent:
A patent based on a granted UK patent remains in force for so long as the UK patent remains in force. The term of an ARIPO patent is 20 years from the effective filing date
Renewals:
No renewal fees are payable on a granted UK patent

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