BOTSWANA
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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
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