Ethiopia

Overview

Ethiopia provides legal mechanisms for protecting trademarks, patents, and industrial designs under the supervision of the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office. As Ethiopia is not a member of regional IP organizations such as ARIPO or OAPI, applications must be filed directly at the national office. Both local and foreign applicants benefit from a framework that adheres to widely recognized international standards.

While administrative procedures may take some time, Ethiopia’s approach to IP rights aims to ensure clear and enforceable protection. Rights holders have recourse to legal systems within the country, allowing them to defend their assets in cases of infringement or disputes over ownership.

International Conventions

Ethiopia has ratified various global treaties that influence its intellectual property environment. These include:

• Paris Convention

• Berne Convention

• TRIPS Agreement

• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

Ethiopia is not a member state of ARIPO or OAPI.