The Tanzania Patent Office is a useful partner in the prosecution process, says Sunday Godfrey Ndamugoba of ABC Attorneys

Are there any peculiarities in Tanzania to be aware of?

Tanzania is a union of two countries, Tanganyika and Zanzibar. For the purposes of the protection of intellectual property rights, there are two jurisdictions, namely Tanzania and Zanzibar, since IP does not fall within the purview of the union matters. In so far as patenting is concerned, in Tanzania, the main law is the Patent (Registration) Act, Cap 217, Revised Edition 2002. In addition to that, there is Patents Regulations (GN No 190 of 1994). In Zanzibar, however, the main legislation is the Zanzibar Industrial Property Act 2008. Tanzania is a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty , the Paris Convention, the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of IP Rights and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). It is that protection that can also be afforded via an ARIPO application designating Tanzania.

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