Patent protection in Liberia may be obtained either by direct national filing with the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) or via the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) under the Harare Protocol, by designating Liberia in a regional application.
The standard duration of a patent is 20 years from the filing date, subject to payment of maintenance fees.
Applicants must submit a specification, claims, and supporting documents describing the invention.
Liberia is a contracting state of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), allowing international applicants to enter the national phase in Liberia.
A substantive examination confirms the invention meets local patentability standards.
Once granted, patent rights can be enforced in Liberian courts, where remedies may include injunctions and damages.