BOTSWANA

View All News

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