On 31 January 2025, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) published the amended Harare Protocol on Patents, Utility Models, and Industrial Designs, along with its Implementing Regulations and Fees. These amendments will come into force on 1 March 2025, applying to all existing and new applications.
- The amendments introduce several official fee increases for patents and industrial designs, which applicants should consider when managing their ARIPO portfolios.
- Notable official fee increases for patents are set out in the table below:
|
OFFICIAL FEE |
INCREASE |
|
Designation fee per member state due upon filing |
From USD 85 to USD 100
(Total increase of USD 300 if all 20 ARIPO member states are designated) |
|
Substantive examination fee |
From USD 600 to USD 1,000 |
|
Fees for excess claims payable per claim beyond ten |
From USD 50 to USD 100 per claim, increasing to USD 200 from claim 60 |
|
Publication fee |
From USD 350 to USD 500 |
|
Grant fee |
From USD 350 to USD 500 |
|
Late payment of anniversary fees (Patent anniversary fees remain unchanged) |
From a fixed USD 100 to 40% of the fee due for payment |
See the full table of fee increases for patents and industrial designs here.
- Given these adjustments, applicants are encouraged to review their ARIPO portfolios for upcoming deadlines and take appropriate action in advance of 1 March 2025 to mitigate the impact of these fee increases.
- Prospective patent applicants entering the regional phase in ARIPO before 1 March 2025 should consider requesting substantive examination upon filing.
- Filing a request for substantive examination before 1 March 2025 will allow applicants to benefit from the current lower substantive examination fee as well as lower excess claim fees, which is particularly significant for applications with a higher number of claims.
KISCH IP is committed to providing timely and relevant advice to assist clients in making informed IP decisions. If you have any questions or need guidance on how these fee adjustments will affect your ARIPO applications, please reach out to us at africapatents@kisch-ip.com.
