Angola IP: Trademarks, Patents, Industrial Designs, Copyright and Domain Names

Angola is a country in south-central Africa bordering Namibia to the south, Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, and Zambia to the east, and with a west coast along the Atlantic Ocean. The exclave province Cabinda has a border with the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Angola was a Portuguese overseas territory from the 16th century to 1975. The country is the second-largest petroleum and diamond producer in sub-Saharan Africa, yet its people are among the continent's poorest. According to the International Monetary Fund, more than $4 billion in oil receipts have disappeared from Angola's treasury in the 2000s.

In August 2006, a peace deal was signed with a faction of the FLEC, a separatist guerrilla from the Cabinda exclave in the North, which is still active. About 65% of Angola's oil comes from that region.

Angola is a strong promise to become an active member of the global economic community and has now one of the fastest growing economies in the world. From its prime geographic location on the Atlantic Ocean to its abundant natural and human resources, and also to the economic development policies focused on private investment, Angola is ripe for investors interested in financial incentives that increase potential returns on capital.

Today, when all eyes are on Africa, Angola is committed to becoming a prime attraction for the private investment that is key to its plans for economic growth.

General Information

Capital:

Luanda

Population:

16 million

Languages:

Portuguese

Main exports:

Diamonds, oil, minerals, coffee, fish and timber

Government Type:

Presidential Republic

Dialing Code:

+244

Timezone:

GMT +1

Monetary Unit:

Kuanza (AOA)

More information:

Angola

International Arrangements

Membership of WIPO treaties:
- Paris Convention (Industrial Property), since December 2007.
- PCT (Patents), since December 2007.
- WIPO Convention, since April 1985.
WTO: Member and Signatory to TRIPS Agreement, since November 1996.
Membership of other bodies/treaties: None.

Patents

Applicants not living in the country must appoint a representative residing in Angola. A legalized POA is necessary

Form:
- Name, nationality, occupation and address of the applicant
- Specification, claims and abstract (in Portuguese)
- Name and country of residence of the inventor if the applicant is not the inventor
- The country where the basic patent application was files, date and number of that filing in case priority is claimed
- Portuguese certified translation of priority certificate is required, legalized by an Angolan Consulate or else a Portuguese Consulate to be confirmed by the Portuguese Foreign Office and the Angolan Consulate in Lisbon
- Drawings
- POA signed by the applicant and legalized by the Angolan Consulate or else a Portuguese Consulate to be confirmed by the Portuguese Foreign Office and the Angolan Consulate in Lisbon

Examination Procedure:
-a substantive examination is carried out

Granting:
-Beginning, duration and extension of protection: on the date of the filing of the patent, for a period of 15 years, which cannot be extended

Annuities:
-payments of fees is foreseen (grace period of 6 months)

Amendment of issued patent:
-may be amended by the owner, protected by simple certificates of amendment

Assignments:
- Patents can be assigned, totally or partially by inter vivos deed or by virtue of lawful succession or succession by will.

Licence for exploitation:
- Licences can be granted by the patentee or by the usufructuary thereof, by means of a notary deed establishing the terms of the exploitation. Except if otherwise agreed, the rights obtained by the licence of exploitation may not be alienated without the conset of the owner or usufructuary of the patent

Trademarks

Applicants not living in the country must appoint a representative residing in Angola. The same legalized POA may be used for each trademark application filed on behalf of same applicant

Trademarks of foreigners:
- Certified copy of home application, with notarized sworn translation into Portuguese and legalized (if a priority is claimed)
- Evidence that the trademark is related to the foreigner applicant's commercial, industrial or professional activity seriously and lawfully exercised in the home country (with notarized sworn translation into Portuguese and legalized)
- The above evidence must be issued by a qualified body of the applicant's home country (Chamber of Commerce) under sworn translation into Portuguese and legalized

List of goods:
-No multi classes are available. Each application can only refer to products or services of one class

Requirements:
- Name, Firm or company name, occupation and domicile or place of business of the applicant
- 1 offset film and 3 prints of the trademark
- Specification of goods or services (International Classification)
- Certified copy of home application together with legalized Portuguese translation, if priority is claimed
- For overseas applicants, an acceptable evidence that the trademark sought to be registered is related to their trade, industrial or professional activity which is seriously and lawfully exercised in the country of origin
- In case of a collective trademark, legal or by-law provisions establishing its system and use
- An authorization from the owner of a foreign trademark being represented by an Angolan Consulate (this document can be sent after the application has been filed).

Examination procedure:
-on absolute and relative grounds

Publication:
- In the Angolan Bulletin of Industrial Property

Opposition period:
- After publication of applications, we can file oppositions within 60 days (can be extended up to 6 months). Administrative appeal can be submitted within 60 days.

Granting:
-Beginning, duration and extension of protection: 10 years as from the date of the application, renewable for further periods of 10 years.

Last term of renewal:
-up to 4 months after the normal period has elapsed

Licenses:
-can be granted by an agreement and must be recorded with the IP Office.

Assignments:
-the property of a trademark can be transferred

TRADEMARK SEARCHES IN ANGOLA
It is recommended to make a search before filing the trademark application, in order to avoid possible conflicts with similar marks. The official search in Angola can take up to 3 months to be issued and it is done by class.

However, we have a database of all official trademark publications, including filing, granting, recordal, renewal, cancellation and assignment publications. Our informal search usually takes less than 24h to be issued and it covers all classes. It is as much effective as the official search, since we have computerized all official records. We provide similarity and availability reports related to the desired trademark names/logos or detailed status reports of a specific trademark application/registration.

Database updated on: July 2011

For orders or more information please contact us: angola@inventa-international.com

Designs and Models

Kinds and definitions of models and designs:
- Utility Models
- Industrial Models
- Industrial Designs

Requirements:
- Name, nationality, occupation and address of the applicant
- A sample of the model or a graphic representation of the model or the design
- Description of the novelty and the utility that is conferred to an utility model or simply the novelty if it refers to an industrial model or to an industrial design

Granting:
-Beginning, duration and extension of protection: 5 years from the date of the application, this period being renewable for further periods of 5 years

Copyrights

Angola hasn't signed up to the Berne Convention yet. However, your creative works may be copyright protected locally and directly in their Intellectual Property Department.

If you seek copyright protection in Angola, please contact us.

Domain Names

Domain extension:

.ao

Requirements:

Domain Names in Angola require approval from local authorities.

We work in the Angolan Capital and we file the domain registrations directly with the official services. It is possible to register the following Angolan Domain extensions:

.AO
.IT.AO
.CO.AO

Unfortunately it is not possible to search for Angolan domain names availability online yet, please contact us with the domains you desire to search and we will tell you the availability and costs.

Filing requirements:
- Name, address and contacts of domain owner and administrator
- Power of Attorney
- Desired Domain Name(s)
- Server specifications (IP/DNS addresses)

More information

Everyday we manage to gather new data so we can keep our website the most complete and up to date. If you can't find any specific information, please contact us.

For more information about the services we provide, please consult our IP Services Page.

Our main goal is to provide the best IP services, always at the best prices. We have special discounts for colleagues and concerning the amounts of work as well.

For the best current charges, please consult us.

Areas of Expertise

Country Guides

Country Guides

Stay Informed

All the Benefits

We're here to help

Angola IP: Trademarks, Patents, Industrial Designs, Copyright and Domain Names