Intellectual Property Services in Botswana

What is Intellectual Property?

Intellectual Property is the human creations brought into existence for a business purpose. These assets speak on the behalf of an organization, or a brand, and exist in industrial activities, literary works, artistic fields etc. They can be a symbol, logo, etc. that is designed by business organizations and are intangible, holding the value of a company within themselves.

Intellectual Property can be broadly divided into two categories:

1. Industrial Property

Includes patents for inventions, industrial designs, geographical indications, trade secrets.

2. Copyright

Includes masterworks of literary, films, music, architectural designs, etc.

Why Does a Business Need Intellectual Property (IP) Services?

As mentioned above, intellectual property represents a business organization, a brand and adds a market value to it. Now, these assets need to be preserved according to the government laws. Every business, whether it’s big or small, needs to protect its creations and hold their right to them. These rights preserve the assets from being used or copied by a company’s competitors.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

In order to hold a legal right, and protect other businesses to use the same creation, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) have come into existence. Any country needs to abide by the Intellectual Property Rights for two main reasons:

1. To safeguard the creations by giving providing alteration rights only to its creators
2. To promote creativity and encourage fair trading between international boundaries

CIPA-Republic of Botswana

Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) is a regulatory body under Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) since 2014 in the Republic of Botswana. CIPA has got seven divisions under its umbrella, but the most important ones are:

1.  Registration of Company Names
2. Copyright and Industrial Property
3. Compliance, Awareness and Client Services
4. Legal Services
5. Corporate Services

Botswana adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) system in the year 2004.

Industrial Property Act of Botswana

The Industrial Property Act of Botswana came into force in 1996, provided the grants of patents, trademarks, industrial designs by the year 1998. At this point, the trademarks and industrial designs were examined in-house, whereas the patents were examined in ARIPO reason being they were quite complex and required advance-technology for examination.

ARIPO - Botswana

ARIPO stands for African Regional Intellectual Property Organization. It joined hands with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and was concluded by a group of 15 states. The ARIPO agreement came into existence in the year 1978 and is headquartered at Harare, Zimbabwe. It was established with an aim of lifting the socio-economic conditions of its member states.

Process of Obtaining a Patent in Botswana

The process of obtaining a patent in Botswana involves a series of steps:

1. The application form needs to be filled
2. The application form along with a request letter needs to be submitted
3. Once the patent is accepted, the patent fees need to be cleared along with a letter of acceptance
4. Once the fees are paid, the patent certificate will be issued

Essential Documents for Application

The essential documents required to be submitted during the application process are:

• Full details about the applicant
• Power of Attorney signed
• Prints of trademark
• List of goods or services offered by business
• Certified copy of priority document (if priority is claimed)

Fee Structure

The fee structure for availing intellectual property in Botswana is as below:

Patent and Utility Model

Industrial Designs

Marks

Layout Design

Benefits of Availing Intellectual Property Services

Intellectual Properties held by any company acts as an intangible asset. Let’s have a look at the benefits that can be derived by holding these assets and availing services for them:

• Increases the brand value
• Patent builds a reputation and leads to business expansion
• These intangible assets can be used for raising capital from the market
• Human creations can be monetized for brand building
• Intellectual Property enhances the goodwill of an organization
• Intellectual Property Services protects them from being used by competitors
• Only patent holders acquire the rights of making changes to their property

Business Setup Worldwide Intellectual Property Services

Business Setup Worldwide is a business consultant, an expert in helping clients in setting up their business worldwide. BSW understands the core processes and proceedings that are required to avail the IP Services. Few of the services that we present include:

• Drafting of the patent specification
• Legal review to check the quality control
• Registration of Industrial Designs
• Maintenance of Botswana Patent
• Brand Valuation
• Assurance and protection of IP across borders
• Resolving IP disputes
• Renewal of patents, trademarks, etc.

Why Us?

Business Setup Worldwide is a platform that allows businesses to grow in foreign lands and expand gradually. Our business experts come with an ample amount of professional exposure and they take care of the essentials and builds a framework for your business. Apart from dealing with the intellectual property, our business experts also help to sort out the legal proceedings, accounting policies etc. so that you can concentrate on the concrete aspects of your business.