History: This patent union of English-speaking African nations was previously known as the Industrial Property Organisation for English-Speaking Africa, set up in 1976. The Harare Protocol on Patents dates from 1982 and was amended in 1994 along with its regulations. Through an ARIPO patent, member states may be designated for protection of an invention. The Harare Protocol allows a PCT patent application to designate ARIPO for those ARIPO countries which are party to PCT. Member states include Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi. Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Sierra Leone, Somalia and Tanzania are members of the union but have not signed the Harare Protocol and may not be designated for an ARIPO patent.

Administration: ARIPO's has a union office in Zimbabwe to process applications during their regional phase.

Provisions until now: ARIPO patents may not be granted on inventions that are not patentable in the state where protection is requested.

SOURCE Alan Jacobs (ed.), Patents Throughout the World, Clark, Boardman & Callaghan, New York, Release #49, March 1995.