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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN ZIMBABWE

Algeria Flag

Opposition Term

60 days

Registration Term

10 Years

First Renewal Term

10 Years

Subsequent Renewal Term

10 Years

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

  • In Zimbabwe, local trademark registration is done by filing the trademark application with the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office (ZIPO).

  • It has a single-class trademark filing system.

  • The 8th edition of Nice Classification is accepted by the trademark office.

  • The interested third parties may file opposition actions against a trademark application any time before its registration; however, most of the objections take place during the two (02) month period post publication.

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

  • Registered trademarks may be subject to cancellation actions put forward by third parties if they aren't in use for five (05) consecutive years.

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

  • A patent application in Zimbabwe can either be filed with the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office or regionally through ARIPO.

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

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

  • Mere discoveries, scientific theories, mathematical methods, commercial methods, applications against established natural laws, and plant or animal varieties can't be patented in Zimbabwe.

  • The time-period for the PCT National Phase Filing is thirty (30) months.

  • Opposition against a patent application can be raised in Zimbabwe.

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

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

  • The Industrial Designs Act (Chapter 26:02) (as last amended by 25/2001) deals with the mechanism of registration of industrial designs.

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

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

  • Opposition against an industrial design application can be raised within two (02) 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 ten (10) years, which is further extendible for a term of five (05) years upon payment of the renewal fee.

  • There is no grace period to renew an industrial design in Zimbabwe.

  • Zimbabwe is a signatory to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.

  • The Copyright and Neighboring Rights Act [Chapter 26:05] - deals with the mechanism of copyright protection in Zimbabwe.

  • In Zimbabwe, the authors of creative works are entitled to copyright protection upon creation and without any formality.

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