Industrial Design

The Harare Protocol, one of ARIPO’s cornerstone agreements, allows applicants to secure protection for patents, utility models, and industrial designs through a single ARIPO application, with the same effect as if filed directly in each designated member state. This regional mechanism has long been a valuable tool for rights holders seeking efficient, centralized IP protection across participating African jurisdictions. In this context, we would like to highlight the recent expansion of the system.

As of March 1, 2025, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has enacted a series of major amendments to its governing legal instrument, the Harare Protocol, which regulates the procedure for the protection of patents and industrial designs among its member states.

On February 17, 2025, Angela Adebayo Agbe-Davies, Regional Director at Inventa Nigeria, led the masterclass “Exploring Governance Models and Intellectual Property” at the 5th edition of The Creative Class Programme by The Assembly Hub. 

The “Inventa IP Review” annually highlights key intellectual property (IP) developments from the past year. This magazine features our team's opinion articles, interviews, press releases, and other expert insights.

From March 1st 2025, the amendments to the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Design will take effect, including their implementing regulations, Forms and Fees. These amendments are applicable to all existing and new applications. 

The global luxury market is expanding, and Africa is increasingly becoming a key area of interest for high-end brands. The continent’s growing middle class, economic diversification, and burgeoning urban centers present significant opportunities for luxury brands to establish a presence. However, the protection of these brands requires robust IP strategies, particularly in markets where counterfeit goods and weak enforcement mechanisms remain prevalent.

The scope of the challenge

On February 3rd the application period for SME Fund began, an initiative implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) with the aim of helping small and medium-sized enterprises with the protection of IP rights. The fund offers partial reimbursements for expenses related to:

• IP Scan / IP Enforcement: up to €810 (in Portugal)

• Trademarks and Designs: up to €700

• National Patents: up to €1.500

• European Patents: up to €2.500

• Plant Variety application: €1.500

The EU Design Reform introduces critical updates, including a new EU-wide repair clause, streamlined filing processes, and changes to fees.

João Pereira Cabral provides a thorough breakdown of the key changes, offering practical insights into how these updates will affect design protection across Europe.
 

Read the full article on IP Stars.

On November 16, Inventa Nigeria attended the Africa Startup Festival (ASF), a vibrant gathering of young professionals, founders and ambitious entrepreneurs from across the African continent. The ASF featured discussions on innovation, deal-making, and strategic collaboration within the startup ecosystem.

The 2024 AIPPI World Congress took place in Hangzhou, China, from October 19th to the 22nd, bringing together professionals from across the global intellectual property (IP) community. The event covered a broad range of key IP topics, including examinations, IP protection, trademarks, and patents.