ETHIOPIA

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Design

Forms part of

  • ARIPO
  • OAPI
  • PARIS CONVENTION
    Although not a party to the Paris Convention, recognises the six months priority period
  • ETHIOPIA
  • ARIPO
  • OAPI

Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Any new composition of lines or colours or any three-dimensional form, whether or not associated with the lines or colours, which gives a special appearance to a product of industry or handicraft and can serve as a pattern for a product of industry or handicraft can be registered and protected as an industrial design.

The Locarno International Classification is used, even though Ethiopia is not a party to the Locarno Agreement.

Absolute novelty applies.

There is provided for a one-year grace period.

Design applications are examined as to compliance with formal requirements, novelty and industrial applicability.

An industrial design endures for an initial period of five years and may be renewed (on application) for a ten-year period, five years at a time.

Annual renewal fees are not payable, but renewal fees are payable upon filing a request for the extension of the industrial design (for a further five-year period).

There is no requirement for working the industrial design in Ethiopia.