TEPATS assists clients in the following activities in Ethiopia:

• Patent filing (inventions & utility models)

• Patent search

• Patent annuity management

• Patent drafting and prosecution

An invention is patentable if it is new, involves an inventive step and is industrially applicable.

In Ethiopia, a patent is registered for an initial period of 15 years starting from the filing date of the application. It can be extended for an additional period of 5 years if the invention is properly worked out in Ethiopia.

Requirements for Registration

For registration, the following are required:

• Application form

• Power of Attorney, legalized by an Ethiopian Consulate

• Title of invention, specifications, claims, abstract and drawings.

• If priority is claimed, a certified copy of the prior application.

• If the applicant is not the inventor, proof of the applicant’s right over the invention

• Photocopies of the required documents may be attached to the application. However, the original documents must be submitted to the IP Office within 90 days from the date the application was filed in Ethiopia.