The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the Chinese Intellectual Property Office launched a joint Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program on 8 June 2024.

Under the pilot program, which will run for an initial term of five years, ARIPO and the Chinese IPO will benefit from the search and examination work already done by the other office. For example, an applicant that received a favorable ruling from one patent office on at least one claim in the application may request a fast-track examination at the other patent office. The applicants benefit from patentability determination in all the jurisdictions covered by the Offices and reduced costs of prosecution.

ARIPO manages IP applications in mainly English-speaking African countries. It has ten member states with respect to trademarks and 22 member states with respect to patents. It is possible to designate individual member countries when filing an ARIPO patent or trademark application.

By: Janet Tomkow-Coetzer

For more information, please contact Janet Tomkow-Coetzer at our South Africa office.

Source: ARIPO website