Intellectual Property Laws at Zambia
Zambia has developed a comprehensive legal framework for the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights, aligning with international standards to foster innovation and economic development.
🏛️ Legal Framework
The primary legislation governing IP in Zambia is the Industrial Property Act No. 3 of 2017, which consolidated and updated previous laws to enhance the protection of patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and utility models, Additionally, the Copyright and Performance Rights Act No. 9 of 2016 governs the protection of literary, artistic, and musical works
📘 Types of IP Protection
Patents
Eligibility Inventions that are new, involve an inventive step, and are capable of industrial application.
Protection Period 20 years from the filing date.
Registration Authority Patents are registered with the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA.
Trademarks
Eligibility Signs capable of distinguishing goods or services, including words, logos, and combinations thereof.
Protection Period 10 years from the registration date, renewable indefinitely.
Registration Authority Trademarks are registered with PACR.
Industrial Designs
Eligibility The appearance of the whole or a part of a product resulting from its features, lines, contours, colours, shape, texture, or material.
Protection Period 5 years from the filing date, renewable up to two additional periods of 5 years each.
Registration Authority Industrial designs are registered with PACR.
Utility Models
Eligibility New and industrially applicable solutions relating to the shape, configuration, or arrangement of an object.
Protection Period 10 years from the filing dat.
Registration Authority Utility models are registered with PACR.
Copyright
Eligibility Original literary, artistic, and musical works, including computer programs and database.
Protection Period The life of the author plus 50 years.
Registration Authority The Copyright Society of Zambia (COSAZ) facilitates the registration and enforcement of copyright.
🛡️ Enforcement and Administration
The Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) is the primary government agency responsible for the administration of industrial property rights in Zamba PACRA is tasked with the registration of patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and utility models, as well as the enforcement of IP rights.
The Copyright Society of Zambia (COSAZ) plays a crucial role in the enforcement of copyright and related rights, including the licensing of works and the collection and distribution of royalties to authors and creators.
🌐 International Cooperation
Zambia is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and has acceded to several international treaties, including:
The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
*The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
These memberships facilitate the protection of IP rights across member countries and enhance Zambia's integration into the global IP system.
📌 Additional Resources
For more information or assistance with IP matters in Zambia, consider consulting the following resources:
Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA)
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