ARIPO Announces New Official Fees for Patent and Design Matters Effective March 1, 2025

HARARE – The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has officially announced an increase in certain official fees related to patent and design matters, which will take effect on March 1, 2025. This adjustment will impact both new and existing patent cases, emphasizing the importance for stakeholders to be aware of these changes.

Key highlights of the new fee structure include significant increases in official fees for substantive examination, grant and publication, post-grant amendments, restoration, and penalties for late payment of renewal fees in patent cases. Additionally, ARIPO will implement new fees for various services, including the late filing of sequence listings, obtaining hard copies of certificates of grant, and appeals.

For design cases, applicants will notice marked increases in official renewal fees as well as penalties for late renewals. Similar to patent applications, new fees will also be introduced for obtaining hard copies of certificates of grant and for appeals related to design matters.

In light of these impending increases, ARIPO strongly encourages applicants to consider filing their patent applications before the March 1, 2025 deadline to take advantage of the current fee rates. Furthermore, for those with upcoming examination and excess claims fees, early payment is recommended to avoid the higher costs associated with the new fee structure.

For further information, please contact us at africa@agip.com