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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN UGANDA

Algeria Flag

Opposition Term

60 days

Registration Term

07 Years

First Renewal Term

10 Years

Subsequent Renewal Term

10 Years

  • Uganda is a member of the African Regional Industrial Property Organization (ARIPO) and a signatory to the Banjul Protocol.

  • In Uganda, local trademark registration is done through the Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB).

  • A separate trademark application is required for each class of goods.

  • The interested third parties may file opposition actions against a trademark application within two (02) months following its publication date in the Official Gazette.

  • The registered trademarks have a validity of seven (07) years from the date of application in Uganda, which can be further renewed indefinitely for periods of ten (10) years.

  • Trademarks must be renewed six (06) months before the renewal date.

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

  • The Industrial Property Act, 2014 deals with the mechanism of patent protection.

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

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

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

  • Utility Model Protection is 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 be raised both at the pre-grant and post-grant stage. At the pre-grant stage, any third party may raise an opposition after the patent gets published, but before it is granted, which is usually within three (03) months of publication. And, for the post-grant scenario, an opposition can be raised within twelve (12) months from the date of publication of the patent grant.

  • The patent of invention lasts for twenty (20) years in Uganda. The protection term for a utility model patent is ten (10) years.

  • The time frame for payment of Annuities before the due date is one (01) day before the due date.

  • Uganda is a member of the Paris Convention and ARIPO.

  • The Industrial Property Act, 2014, deals with the mechanism of registration of industrial designs.

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

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

  • Opposition against an industrial design application can be raised within three (03) months from the publication of the industrial design in the official gazette.

  • 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 Uganda.

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

  • The Copyright, Act, 31/05/2006, deals with the mechanism of copyright protection in Uganda.

  • Copyright protection in Uganda is automatic, and it does not require any formality; however, the certificate of copyright registration and the entries made therein serve as evidence in the court of law concerning any dispute related to the ownership of copyright.

  • 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.