Patents in Namibia are administered by BIPA. Inventors can file directly under Namibian law or leverage ARIPO protocols for broader coverage in designated member states. Patentable inventions must satisfy novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability:
The patent term is 14 years from the filing date, subject to maintenance fees.
Applicants must submit a specification, claims, and any relevant technical documentation.
A substantive examination confirms patentability according to local requirements.
Namibia’s status as a contracting state of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) enables international applicants to enter the national phase with a single international application.
Once granted, patents can be enforced in Namibian courts, providing exclusive rights against unauthorized manufacture, use, or sale.