ARIPO
ARIPO Trademark Registration: Protect Your Brand Across Africa with One Application
ARIPO trademark registration lets you protect your brand in several African countries through a single application filed with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) in Harare, Zimbabwe. Trademark filings run under the Banjul Protocol on Marks: you file once, in English, designate the member states you need, and pay one set of fees in US dollars. Each designated country then examines the mark under its own law and can accept or refuse it. For brands entering East and Southern Africa, it is often the most cost-effective route.
On this page
ARIPO trademark registration at a glance
- Regional office
- ARIPO, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Governing treaty
- Banjul Protocol on Marks
- Countries covered
- Number Banjul Protocol member states (out of 22 ARIPO members)
- Filing language
- English
- Classification
- Nice Classification, 45 classes; multi-class filing allowed
- Filing route
- Direct with ARIPO, or through a national office of a member state
- National examination
- Each designated state has 9 months to refuse
- Madrid Protocol
- ARIPO is not a Madrid member; designate countries individually through Madrid where available
- Typical timeline
- 12 to 18 months without refusals
- Validity
- 10 years from filing, renewable for 10-year periods
* Timelines assume no refusals or oppositions. Requirements change; contact us to confirm the current position before filing.
Why register your trademark through ARIPO
One application, several countries
A single ARIPO filing can cover multiple African markets. You avoid preparing separate applications, translations and fee payments for each country.
Lower cost than national filings
One set of ARIPO fees in US dollars usually costs less than filing nationally in three or more member states. Savings grow with every country you add.
One registration to manage
Renewals, ownership changes and address updates are recorded centrally at ARIPO. That cuts admin across your African portfolio.
Early protection in growth markets
Most member states follow first-to-file. Registering early stops local traders and distributors from registering your brand before you arrive.
Our ARIPO trademark services
End-to-end support from search to renewal, coordinated with local counsel in each designated state.
ARIPO trademark search
Clearance searches at ARIPO and in the national registers of your target states.
ARIPO trademark filing
Application drafting, class and specification strategy, and choice of designated states.
Refusal and objection handling
Responses to national refusals through local attorneys.
Renewal services
10-year renewals tracked and filed on time.
Assignment and recordals
Ownership transfers, name changes and licence recordals.
Watch and monitoring
Alerts on conflicting marks filed at ARIPO and nationally.
Why choose Legacy Partners Global as your ARIPO trademark consultants
- Route advice before you file. We tell you when ARIPO, national filings or a mix gives the strongest protection, country by country.
- Local counsel network. Refusals and enforcement are handled by attorneys in each designated state, coordinated by one Legacy Partners Global contact.
- Africa-wide coverage. We also file in OAPI and non-ARIPO African countries, so one team covers the whole continent.
- Fixed written quotes. Official and professional fees confirmed in writing before you instruct us.
- Offices in Dubai, India, UK, Canada serving brand owners in more than 190 jurisdictions.
ARIPO member states and Banjul Protocol countries
ARIPO membership and trademark coverage are not the same thing. Only states that have joined the Banjul Protocol can be designated in an ARIPO trademark application. Patents and designs run under a separate treaty, the Harare Protocol, which has more members.
| Country | ARIPO member | Can be designated for trademarks (Banjul) |
|---|---|---|
| Botswana | Yes | Yes |
| Cabo Verde | Yes | Yes |
| Eswatini | Yes | Yes |
| Lesotho | Yes | Yes |
| Liberia | Yes | Yes |
| Malawi | Yes | Yes |
| Namibia | Yes | Yes |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | Yes | Yes |
| Tanzania | Yes | Yes, check Zanzibar coverage |
| Uganda | Yes | Yes |
| Zimbabwe | Yes | Yes |
| Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Zambia | Yes | No: file nationally |
Countries you must file in nationally. Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Mozambique and Rwanda are major markets but are not Banjul members. Combine an ARIPO filing with national filings in these countries for full regional coverage.
Domestication risk. Some Banjul states have not fully written the Protocol into national law, which can make an ARIPO registration hard to enforce in local courts. In those states we recommend a parallel national filing for key brands.
ARIPO trademark registration process
An ARIPO trademark moves from one central filing to national decisions and back to one central registration.
Filing
The application is filed with ARIPO in Harare, directly or through the national office of a Banjul member state. It names the mark, the classes and goods or services, and the designated states. Paris Convention priority can be claimed within 6 months of a first filing elsewhere.
Formal examination
ARIPO checks that the application meets the filing requirements and that fees are paid. Missing items must be corrected within the deadline ARIPO sets.
Notification to designated states
ARIPO sends the application to the trademark office of each designated state.
National substantive examination
Each designated office examines the mark under its own national law. It has 9 months from notification to issue a refusal. A refusal affects only that country.
Registration and publication
Where no refusal is issued in time, ARIPO registers the mark for those states and publishes it in the ARIPO Journal.
Opposition
Third parties can oppose at the national office of the relevant state within the period set by its law / within 3 months of publication.
Renewal
The registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and is renewed centrally at ARIPO for further 10-year periods.
Ready to file in Africa?
File your trademarkStart your ARIPO application in minutes. Nothing is filed until you approve the written quote.
Documents required for ARIPO trademark registration
Power of attorney
Power of attorney signed by the applicant simple signature; notarisation not required
Applicant details
Applicant details: full name, address, nationality or place of incorporation
Mark representation
Mark representation: clear image (JPG, high resolution) for logos and stylised marks
Goods and services
Designated states you want covered
Designated states
Designated states you want covered
Priority document
Priority document (certified copy) if claiming priority, with English translation where needed
Power of attorney requirements
Signed by the applicant, or an authorised signatory for a company. Notarisation and legalisation are not required for ARIPO filings. Filing can start on a scanned copy; the original may be requested later. National refusals and oppositions may need separate powers of attorney for local counsel in each country.
Timeline, validity and renewal
How long registration takes
- Total time: approximately 12 to 18 months from filing to registration where no state refuses.
- National examination window: each designated state has 9 months from notification to refuse.
- Validity: 10 years from the filing date.
- Renewal: renewed centrally at ARIPO for 10-year periods; a 6-month grace period applies with a surcharge.
ARIPO trademark law and the regional office
ARIPO was set up under the Lusaka Agreement of 1976 and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe. Its trademark system runs under the Banjul Protocol on Marks, adopted in 1993 and in force since 1997, together with its implementing regulations. ARIPO handles filing, formal examination, registration and renewals. Substantive examination, oppositions and enforcement remain under each member state's national trademark law and courts.
ARIPO vs national filing vs OAPI
We choose the route country by country. For most brands entering several English-speaking African markets, we recommend ARIPO for the Banjul states plus national filings for key non-Banjul markets.
| ARIPO (Banjul Protocol) | National filings | OAPI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Banjul states you designate | One country per application | 17 mostly French-speaking West and Central African states, all at once |
| Choice of countries | Yes, pick states | Yes | No, one unitary right |
| Language | English | Local language of each office | French or English |
| Cost for 3+ countries | Lower | Higher | One fee for all states |
| Refusal in one country | Affects only that state | Affects only that state | Affects the whole registration |
| Enforcement certainty | Depends on domestication in each state | Strongest | Strong, uniform law |
| Madrid Protocol | Not available | Where the country is a member | Available |
| Best for | Several Southern and East African markets | Key markets such as Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa | Francophone Africa |
Use requirements and non-use cancellation
An ARIPO registration does not require proof of use to register or renew. However, a mark not used in a designated state for 5 consecutive years can be removed from that state's register on application by a third party, under that state's national law. Keep evidence of use in each market: invoices, packaging, advertising and distributor records.
Opposition, refusals and appeals
- National refusals. A designated state can refuse the mark within 9 months of notification, on absolute grounds (descriptive, contrary to morality) or relative grounds (conflict with an earlier mark). You respond through local counsel in that state.
- Partial outcomes. A refusal in one state does not affect the others. The mark proceeds to registration everywhere it was accepted.
- Opposition. Third parties can oppose in each state under national procedure / at ARIPO within 3 months of publication.
- Appeals. Refusal decisions are appealed under the national law of the refusing state, typically to its registrar, tribunal or High Court.
Trademark enforcement and infringement in ARIPO states
An ARIPO registration has the same effect as a national registration in each designated state, but enforcement always happens country by country, under national law and in national courts.
What counts as infringement
Using an identical or confusingly similar mark for the same or related goods or services, selling counterfeits, or importing goods bearing your mark without consent.
Your enforcement options
- Cease-and-desist letter: the fastest, lowest-cost first step against local infringers.
- Civil court action: injunctions, damages and delivery-up of infringing goods in the relevant national court.
- Anti-counterfeit authorities: several member states have dedicated bodies, such as Zimbabwe, Tanzania's Fair Competition Commission, Uganda; they can raid and seize counterfeit stock.
- Customs border measures: record your rights with national customs authorities, where available, to detain suspect imports.
- Online takedowns: remove infringing listings on African marketplaces and social media.
Before you enforce
In states where the Banjul Protocol has not been domesticated, a local court may question an ARIPO registration. We check enforceability first and, for priority markets, recommend a parallel national registration.
How Legacy Partners Global helps
Our ARIPO trademark consultants gather evidence, send cease-and-desist letters, file oppositions and coordinate local litigation counsel across member states.
What to know before filing through ARIPO
Check which countries are covered
Kenya, Ghana, Zambia and other key markets are not Banjul members. Plan national filings alongside ARIPO.
Weigh enforcement against cost
ARIPO saves money, but in states with domestication gaps a national registration is safer for your core brand.
File for what you will sell
Protection covers only the goods and services listed. Include products you plan to launch in Africa over the next few years.
Search nationally, not just at ARIPO
Earlier national marks can block your ARIPO application in a designated state. Search both ARIPO and national registers before filing.
Client stories
Businesses that trust us with their brands across borders.
We had an excellent experience working with Legacy Partners for trademark registration and brand protection services in India. Their expert team guided us throughout the filing process, ensuring accurate documentation, timely updates, and seamless support. Their professionalism and intellectual property expertise gave us confidence in protecting our brand identity while supporting our expansion into new markets.
Mohammed Ashkar AliMouzy
We had a seamless experience working with Legacy Partners for trademark registration services in Bahrain. Their professional team provided excellent support throughout the trademark filing process, ensuring timely updates, accurate documentation, and smooth coordination. Their expertise in intellectual property and brand protection services helped us secure our brand identity with confidence.
SabirK.K Food Product
* Client stories are shared with permission.
ARIPO trademark registration: FAQ
What is ARIPO trademark registration?
A regional filing with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization that protects your mark in the Banjul Protocol states you designate, through one application.
Which countries does an ARIPO trademark cover?
Only the Banjul Protocol states you designate, currently number countries including Botswana, Namibia, Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Kenya and Ghana are not covered.
How much does ARIPO trademark registration cost?
Costs depend on classes and designated states. One class in five states costs approximately USD including official and professional fees.
How long does ARIPO trademark registration take?
Approximately 12 to 18 months where no designated state refuses the mark.
How long is an ARIPO trademark valid?
Yes. ARIPO accepts multi-class applications, with fees charged per class.
Can I file one application for several classes?
Yes. ARIPO accepts multi-class applications, with fees charged per class.
Do I need a local agent or ARIPO trademark consultant?
Applicants from outside member states must appoint a registered agent. A consultant also manages national refusals through local counsel.
Is ARIPO part of the Madrid Protocol?
No. You cannot designate ARIPO through Madrid. Individual African countries can be designated through Madrid where they are members.
What is the difference between ARIPO and OAPI?
ARIPO lets you choose English-speaking Southern and East African states. OAPI gives one unitary right across 17 mainly French-speaking states.
What happens if one country refuses my mark?
The refusal applies only in that country. Your mark still registers in the other designated states.
Can I add countries after filing?
Yes, designations can be added later by a subsequent designation, with protection in the new state running from that date.
Is an ARIPO trademark enforceable in national courts?
Yes in most Banjul states. Where the Protocol has not been domesticated, we recommend a national registration for key brands.
What can I do if someone copies my trademark in an ARIPO country?
Send a cease-and-desist letter, then act through national courts, anti-counterfeit authorities or customs in that country.
Can I claim priority from my home application?
Yes. File within 6 months of your first application and claim Paris Convention priority.
Should I file through ARIPO or nationally?
ARIPO usually suits three or more Banjul states. For one or two countries, or markets with enforcement gaps, national filing is often better.
Insights on African trademark protection
ARIPOTrademark registration in other African markets
Protect your brand across Africa with one ARIPO filing
Our ARIPO trademark consultants confirm the best route and the full cost in writing before filing.
Reviewed by Hashim Wafa, Corporate & Cross-Border IP LawyerLicensed trademark attorney
This page is general information, not legal advice. Official requirements and fees can change; we confirm the current position for your matter before filing.