Patent protection in Malawi requires an application filed with the Registrar General’s Department or, alternatively, via ARIPO for broader territorial coverage. The invention must demonstrate novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
The term of the patent is 16 years from the filing date, subject to annuities fees.
Applicants submit a detailed specification, claims, and relevant supporting documents.
A substantive examination verifies compliance with patentability criteria under Malawi’s laws.
As a PCT contracting state, Malawi allows applicants to enter the national phase following an international filing under the PCT system.
Once a patent is granted, the patentee holds exclusive rights within Malawi, ensuring legal recourse against unauthorized exploitation of the invention.