National Filings

IP in Africa

What Are National Filings?

While regional IP systems like ARIPO and OAPI offer protection across multiple African countries via a single application, many key African jurisdictions are not part of either system. In these cases, intellectual property rights must be obtained through individual national filings with the respective country’s IP office.

Countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria, and Morocco operate independent national IP regimes, each with their own procedures, timelines, and requirements for patents, trademarks, and designs.

Why Consider National Filings?

For businesses looking to expand into Africa’s largest economies, national filings are often the only route to obtain enforceable protection. These countries are not members of ARIPO or OAPI, yet represent significant commercial opportunities.

Here’s why applicants commonly file nationally in these jurisdictions:

Key strategic markets

South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt are among the continent’s top economies.

Independent legal systems

Unique procedures and requirements may offer tailored advantages.

Supplement regional filings

National protection can complement ARIPO/OAPI filings for broader coverage.

Direct enforcement

IP enforcement often requires local registration in these jurisdictions.

Key Non-ARIPO / Non-OAPI Jurisdictions

🇿🇦 South Africa

  • No current membership in ARIPO or OAPI
  • No substantive examination for patents
  • Patent, trademark, and design protection available via national system
  • Member of the Paris Convention and PCT, but not of the Madrid Protocol
  • Fast and cost-effective registration process for trademarks and patents

🇪🇬 Egypt

  • National filing required for all IP rights
  • Member of the Madrid Protocol and the PCT
  • Arabic translations mandatory
  • Notable for strong pharmaceutical and industrial sectors

🇳🇬 Nigeria

  • Not a member of ARIPO or OAPI
  • Trademarks, patents, and designs must be filed locally
  • Trademark searches and recordals are required pre-registration
  • English-language jurisdiction with growing enforcement infrastructure

🇪🇹 Ethiopia

  • No current membership in ARIPO or OAPI
  • Trademark protection available via national system
  • Limited IP infrastructure, but emerging regulatory framework

🇲🇦 Morocco

  • Not part of ARIPO/OAPI
  • Member of the Madrid Protocol and the PCT
  • French and Arabic used in official documentation
  • Efficient and relatively modern IP office

Filing in Other African Jurisdictions

Other countries requiring national filings include Algeria, Angola, Tunisia, Libya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Ghana (despite being ARIPO members, some filings are still made nationally depending on the protocol and enforcement needs).

Need Help with National Filings in Africa?

At Bergenthuin Inc., we help international clients file and prosecute IP rights in all 54 African countries. Whether you need patent protection in South Africa, a trademark registered in Nigeria, or a design filed in Morocco, we can guide you through the local processes efficiently and cost-effectively.

Get in touch for tailored advice or a consolidated filing strategy across multiple African jurisdictions.