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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN SIERRA LEONE

Algeria Flag

Opposition Term

N/A

Registration Term

10 Years

First Renewal Term

10 Years

Subsequent Renewal Term

10 Years

  • In Sierra Leone, the trademark applications must be filed with the trademark section of the Administrator and Registrar-General's Department of Sierra Leone (OARG).

  • Sierra Leone is also a member of the Madrid Protocol; thus, the extension of international registration of a trademark via the Madrid System is possible for the country and its applicants.

  • It has a single-class trademark filing system.

  • In Sierra Leone, the classification of goods is as per the old British 50 classes.

  • Registration of service marks is not applicable.

  • The interested third parties may file opposition actions against a trademark application within three (03) months following its publication date.

  • The registered trademarks have a validity of fourteen (14) years from the date of application in Sierra Leone, which can be further renewed indefinitely for periods of fourteen (14) years.

  • Sierra Leone is a member of the Paris Convention, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), and ARIPO.

  • The Patents and Industrial Design Act, 2012 (Act No. 10 of 2012), deals with the mechanism of patent protection.

  • Process Patent and Product Patent are the two types of patents that can be protected in Sierra Leone.

  • In Sierra Leone, any invention that satisfies the conditions of novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, subjects to patentability.

  • The types of patent applications in Sierra Leone include Non-Convention Application, Convention Application, and PCT National Phase Application.

  • Utility Model Protection is not available under the patent law.

  • The time-period for the PCT National Phase Filing is thirty-one (31) months.

  • Opposition against a patent application can't be raised in Sierra Leone.

  • The patent of invention lasts for twenty (20) years in Sierra Leone.

  • The time frame for payment of Annuities before the due date is six (06) months.

  • Sierra Leone is a member of the Paris Convention and ARIPO.

  • The Patents and Industrial Design Act, 2012 (Act No. 10 of 2012) deals with the mechanism of registration of industrial designs.

  • An industrial design registered in the UK automatically extends its validity to Sierra Leone. No re-registration of a UK registered industrial design is required. The industrial design remains in force in Sierra Leone for as long as the corresponding UK industrial design registration remains in force.

  • The types of industrial design applications in Sierra Leone include Non-Convention Application and Convention Application.

  • Utility model protection isn't provided under industrial design protection in Sierra Leone.

  • Opposition against an industrial design application can't be raised in Sierra Leone.

  • The total duration of an industrial design registration is fifteen (15) years from the date of application. The initial term of registration is five (05) years, which is further extendible for two terms of (05) five years each upon payment of the renewal fee.

  • There is a grace period of six (06) months to renew an industrial design in Sierra Leone.

  • Sierra Leone is not a signatory to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.

  • The Copyright Act, 2011 (Act No. 8 of 2011) deals with the mechanism of copyright protection in Sierra Leone.

  • The standard copyright protection term lasts for the lifetime of the author plus fifty (50) years following his death. However, the duration of copyright protection varies depending on the type of work.

  • For photographs, films, and broadcasts, the term of copyright protection lasts for fifty (50) years from publication. For sound recordings, the copyright protection term lasts for fifty (50) years from creation.