---
title: "Protecting, managing and enforcing IP in Africa"
description: "Protecting, managing and enforcing IP in Africa, a continent with 59 countries and islands, requires specialist IP knowledge."
image: https://spoor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Regions-Africa.jpg
canonical: https://spoor.com/regions/africa/
url: https://spoor.getmd.ai/regions/africa/.md
last_converted: 2026-04-26T14:10:18.442Z
---

[Home](https://spoor.com)›[Regions](https://spoor.com/regions/)›Africa

# Protecting, managing and enforcing IP in Africa

Protecting, managing and enforcing IP in Africa, a continent with 59 countries and islands, requires specialist IP knowledge, enduring relationships and on-the-ground resources, because each country has different laws, policies and infrastructures, at different stages of development.

Spoor & Fisher is proud to be the intellectual property partner of choice across Africa, where local and international companies, law firms and inventors trust our expertise, experience and know-how to protect their IP. With physical offices in Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, OAPI (via Cameroon) and ARIPO (via Malawi), a direct filing presence in Sierra Leone and Zanzibar, and carefully appointed local associates, we don’t watch from afar; we actively manage the entire process.

Need information on filing requirements? Want to learn more about regional IP organisations?

Use our **interactive Africa map** and browse our FAQs.

[Speak to one of our attorneys](mailto:info@spoor.com)

| CountryCountry

CountryCountry
Algeria0
Angola1
Benin2
Botswana3
Burkina-Faso4
Burundi5
Cameroon6
Cape Verde7
Central African Republic8
Chad9
Comoros10
Republic of Congo11
Ivory Coast12
Djibouti13
Democratic Republic of Congo14

Egypt15
Equatorial Guinea16
Eritrea17
Eswatini49
Ethiopia18
Gabon19
Gambia20
Ghana21
Guinea22
Guinea-Bissau23
Kenya24
Lesotho25
Liberia26
Libya27
Madagascar28
Malawi29
Mali30
Mauritania31
Mauritius32
Morocco33
Mozambique34
Namibia35
Niger36
Nigeria37

Rwanda39
Sao Tome e Principe40
Senegal41
Seychelles42
Sierra Leone43
Somalia44
Somaliland45
South Africa46
South Sudan57
St Helena47
Sudan48
Tanzania50
Togo51
Tunisia52
Uganda53
Zambia54
Zanzibar55
Zimbabwe56 |
| --- |
| International and Regional ArrangementsInternational
and Regional Arrangements

International and Regional
ArrangementsInternational and Regional
Arrangements
ARIPO - DesignsARIPO - Designs
ARIPO - PatentsARIPO - Patents
ARIPO - Trade MarksARIPO - Trade Marks
ARIPO - Utility ModelARIPO - Utility Model
HagueHague
MadridMadrid
OAPI - DesignsOAPI - Designs
OAPI - PatentsOAPI - Patents
OAPI - Trade MarksOAPI - Trade Marks
OAPI - Utility ModelOAPI - Utility Model
Paris ConventionParis Convention
PCTPCT |
| General IP RegulationsGeneral IP
Regulations

General IP RegulationsGeneral IP Regulations

Where customs watch notices or surveillance requests are effective and availableWhere customs watch notices or surveillance requests are effective and available
Where effective action can be taken against counterfeitsWhere effective action can be taken against counterfeits
Designs - protection availableDesigns - protection available
Designs - searches possibleDesigns - searches possible
Designs - UK designs extend automaticallyDesigns - UK designs extend automatically

Designs - cover multiple designs in one application (subject to certain conditions)Designs - cover multiple designs in one application (subject to certain conditions)
Patents - protection availablePatents - protection available
Patents - searches possiblePatents - searches possible
Patents - re-registration of UK or foreign patents possiblePatents - re-registration of UK or foreign patents possible
Patents - simple registration procedures (non-examining)Patents - simple registration procedures (non-examining)
Patents - substantive examination takes place (countries highlighted in dark blue: ARIPO)Patents - substantive examination takes place (countries highlighted in dark blue: ARIPO)
Trade marks - protection availableTrade marks - protection available
Trade marks - searches possibleTrade marks - searches possible
Trade marks - convention priority can be claimedTrade marks - convention priority can be claimed
Trade marks - first to file countriesTrade marks - first to file countries
Trade marks - international classification of goods and services appliesTrade marks - international classification of goods and services applies
Trade marks - multi-class applications possibleTrade marks - multi-class applications possible
Trade marks - permit the licensing of trade marks and make provision for the recordal of licensees (to various degrees)Trade marks - permit the licensing of trade marks and make provision for the recordal of licensees (to various degrees)

Utility models - utility models can be filedUtility models - utility models can be filed |

## Click on the map for FAQs

Country Information