• Kenya
  • Resources
  • Business Services
  • Patenting Services
  • Patenting Services

Patent application examination

The  first  task  for  the  examiner  is  to  determine  whether  the  application  meets  the requirements according to the filing date.

These requirements are prescribed under section 41  of  the  Act  as  the  name  of  the:

  • applicant; 
  • description; 
  • claims;  and 
  • drawings  where necessary.

More information
 

Contact details

KIPI Centre,
Kabarsiran Avenue,
Off Waiyaki Way, Lavington
P.O. Box 51648-00200, Nairobi.
Tel: 020-6002210/11, 6006326/29/36, 2386220
Mobile: 0702002020, 0736002020
E-mail: info@kipi.go.ke
Facebook: @kipikenya
Twitter: @kipikenya
www.kipi.go.ke

How to get a patent in Kenya

A  patent  gives  the  owner  the  exclusive  rights  to prevent  others  from  manufacturing, using  or  selling  the  protected  invention  in  a  given  country.     

A patent is  a  legally enforceable right, granted by the government  in return for disclosure of the  invention to the public.

Patent protection is territorial, meaning every country grants patents that are only applicable and enforceable in that country. In other words, patents rights can only be enforced in a country where the patent is granted and in force. 

Kenya  Industrial  Property  Institute  (KIPI)  is  responsible  for  examining  and  granting patents in Kenya. KIPI operates under the Industrial Property Act 2001.

However, it is also  possible  to  obtain  a  patent  through  the  African  Regional  Intellectual  Property Organization  (ARIPO),  which  is  a  regional  intergovernmental  organization mandated  to  grant  patents  on  behalf  of  its  member states. Currently ARIPO has a membership of 16 African countries.

What is the cost of a patent?

Patent  costs  vary  from  case  to  case and increase  significantly  if  one  seeks  patents overseas. 

The  cost  may  also  vary  if  the  applicant  uses  the  services  of  patent  agents, who have their own set of fees. 

To file an application in Kenya, at a minimum the following fees are applicable:

  • Filing fee of Ksh3,000 - due when the application is filed;
  • Publication fee of Ksh3,000 - due after 18 months from the filing date;
  • Examination fee of Ksh 5,000 - due within 3 years from the filing date;
  • Grant fee of Ksh 3,000 - due once the patent has been accepted for grant.
angle-left Why You Need a Trademark

Why You Need a Trademark

Registration of a trade mark is direct evidence of exclusive ownership in Kenya and helps keep off potential infringers who would be attempted to ride on the goodwill of your mark.

It enables you to more easily protect your rights more easily in case someone challenged them since the burden is on the challenger to prove any rights in a dispute.

The process of registration with its thorough checks for conflicting trademarks ensures that you have a unique mark that does not resemble any other parties mark and in so doing helps one avoid infringement of other parties' rights.

Here we should also add that registration is not mandatory, using a mark for a certain length of time can establish your ownership through Common Law-but it is highly advisable to register a trade mark.

Registration is direct evidence of one’s ownership and enables you to more easily protect your rights, should someone challenge them. In a dispute, the burden is on the challenger of the registered trade mark to prove ownership.

Use of an unregistered trade mark can lead to a lengthy, expensive legal dispute over who has the right to use it. A registered trade mark is also a valuable asset for business expansion especially so through licensing franchises.

share-alt