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Patening in Eswatini

Patenting guarantees exclusive rights to individuals or firms to protect their own ideas or inventions. It prohibits others from stealing or duplicating them. Patents are inadequately protected under the Eswatini laws. Patents are currently protected under a 1936 Act that extends automatic patent protection, upon proper application, to products that have been patented in either South Africa or Great Britain. Trademarks are protected under the Trademarks Act of 1981. Copyright is protected under four statutes, dated 1912, 1918, 1933, and 1936.

Laws enacted in 2018 have updated Eswatini’s Intellectual Property legal framework. Eswatini Intellectual Property Tribunal Act 2015 establishes an Intellectual Property Tribunal for hearing intellectual property matters and disputes. Women entrepreneurs are guaranteed that their business ideas are projected from duplication.

Requirements

  • Ensure that your invention qualifies for a patent
  • Fill out the patent application
  • Able to describe all aspects of your invention

Contact details

Intellectual Property Office

The Intellectual Property Office is entrusted with the responsibility of providing guarantee appropriate, effective protection and registration of Trade Marks and Service Marks. Patents, Utility Models, Industrial Designs, Copyright and Neighbouring Rights through the respective pieces of legislation. It is responsible for improving and developing all Intellectual Property legislation in order to provide strong protection of the rights as well as to be compatible with regional and Intellectual obligations in the field of Intellectual Property.

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade

Intellectual Property Office

Inter-ministerial Building

Mhlambanyatsi Road

Phone: +268 2404 2372

Website: www.gov.sz