RWANDA

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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

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