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

The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked nation in Southern Africa. Citizens of Botswana are Batswana (singular: Motswana), regardless of ethnicity. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast. The economy, closely tied to South Africa's, and one of the most successful in Africa, is dominated by the fast-growing service sector, world-renowned mining (especially diamonds) industry, tourism, and manufacturing.

General Information

Capital:

Gaborone

Population:

1,5 million

Languages:

English

Languages:

Setswana

Main exports:

Diamonds, copper, nickel and beef

Government Type:

Parliamentary Republic

Dialing Code:

+267

Timezone:

GMT +2

Monetary Unit:

Pula (BWP)

More information:

Botswana

International Arrangements

ARIPO
WIPO Convention
Paris Convention (Industrial Property)
Berne Convention (Literary and Artistic Works)
PCT (Patents)
WCT (WIPO Copyright Treaty)
WPPT (WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty)

Patents

Types of Patents:
Patents of Invention
Patents PCT

Filing Requirements:
Patents of Invention
- Power of Attorney (in English)
- Full particulars of the inventors and of the applicants
- Specification, claims and abstract in English
- Drawings
- Deed of Assignment of Invention (notarized and legalized)
- Priority document with certified English translation

Patents PCT
- Power of Attorney (in English)
- Full particulars of the inventors and of the applicants.
- Specification, claims and abstract in English
- Copy of the published international search report
- Copy of the published international application
- Priority document with verified English translation

Granting:
The term of a patent is twenty years from the filing date.

Renewals:
Every year (in the date of filing or the priority date)

Trademarks

Filing Requirements:
- Power of Attorney (in English)
- 2 prints of the trademark
- The full particulars of the applicant
- The list of the goods and/or services to be covered by the trademark and classes.
- Priority document with certified English translation

Granting:
The protection is for twenty years, and starts from the date of application

Renewals:
Every year

Designs and Models

Filing Requirements:
- Power of Attorney (in English)
- Full particulars of the inventors and of the applicants.
- Graphic representation or a sample of the model
- Assignment of Invention (notarized and legalized)
- Description of the novelty for the industrial model or the industrial design

Granting:
The term of protection is fifteen years from the filing date.

Renewals:
Every 5 years

Utility Models

Filing Requirements
- Power of Attorney (in English)
- Full particulars of the inventors and of the applicants.
- Drawings
- Assignment of Invention (notarized and legalized)
- Description of the novelty for the industrial model or the industrial design
- Priority document with certified English translation

Granting
The term of protection is seven years from the filing date.

Renewals
Every year

Copyrights

Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works

As a member of the Berne Convention, it is possible to copyright protect creative works in this country, as well as all the other member nations automatically (more than 160 countries), with one single application.

For more information and to submit us your works for worldwide copyright protection, click here.

Domain Names

Domain extension:

.bw

Requirements:
-The following are the requirements for registering .co.bw domains:
-Individuals: company names should not be used;
-Companies: the domain name must match the incorporation name;

Downloadable Files

Botswana - Power of Attorney.doc

More information

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