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