NAMIBIA

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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 Namibia in an ARIPO application)
• OAPI:  No

Filing Requirements:

• Published PCT application or specification, claims and abstract in English (required on day of filing)
• Power of Attorney, simply signed (no set deadline)
• Assignment of Invention (no set deadline)
• Copy of International Search Report and International Preliminary Report on Patentability for national phase applications (no set deadline)

Novelty:   Absolute novelty is required

Excess Fees:   None

Examination:   As to form only

Term of Patent:   14 years from the effective filing date, which can be extended up to 7 years

Renewals:   Payable on the 3^rd, 7^th and 10^th anniversary of the effective filing date

General Information

• Area: Approximately 824 500 km2
• Population: 2.2 million
• Capital: Windhoek
• Currency: Namibian Dollar
• GDP:  $ 14.64 billion (2010)
• Domain name extension: .na
• Languages: English (official language), Afrikaans, German, Khoekhoe (Nama), Herero, Ovambo
• Exports:  Diamonds; copper; gold; zinc; lead; uranium; cattle; processed fish; karakul skins
• Imports:  Foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel; machinery and equipment; chemicals

International / Regional Conventions:

• Banjul Protocol (of ARIPO)
• Berne Convention
• Hague Agreement on Designs
• Madrid Agreement on Marks
• Madrid Protocol on Marks
• Paris Convention
• Patent Cooperation Treaty
• WIPO Convention
• WTO/TRIPS