Patent rights in Ethiopia are secured via filing an application with the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office. Patentable inventions must fulfill novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
The standard term of a patent is 15 years, calculated from the filing date, subject to annual maintenance fees.
It is possible to extend for an additional 5 years upon proof that the invention is being properly working in Ethiopia.
A full description of the invention and claims must be submitted, accompanied by relevant drawings if applicable.
A substantive exam is carried out to verify that all patentability requirements are satisfied.
Ethiopia’s membership in the Patent Cooperation Treaty allows foreign applicants to enter the national phase after filing an international application.
Once granted, the patent confers exclusive rights to the inventor, who may pursue legal remedies within Ethiopia if infringement occurs.