Burundi

HOW TO REGISTER A PATENT

Patent protection in Burundi is available via a national filing.  Burundi is a member of the International Convention, but is not a member of PCT.

The requirements for filing an application in Burundi are as follows:

1. Power of Attorney (simply signed) - can be late filed within 2 months;
2. Priority Assignment with French translation - can be late filed within 3 months;
3. Specification, claims, abstract and drawings in French - required on the day of filing; and
4. Certified copy of priority application with verified French translation of cover page - can be late filed within 3 months.

The cost of filing a patent application in Burundi is currently in the region of about US$ 3300.00.  To this must be added about US$ 300.00 for each priority claim.

Should it be required, we can assist with the preparation of any translation from English to French at a cost of US$ 30.00 per 100 words.

HOW TO REGISTER A DESIGN

Burundi is a member of the International Convention.

The requirements for filing a design application in Burundi are as follows:

1. Power of Attorney (simply signed) - required on the day of filing;
2. Description and title of design in French - required on the day of filing;
3. 2 sets of formal drawings - required on the day of filing;
4. International classification - required on the day of filing;
5. Certified copy of priority document with French translation - can be late filed within 3 months; and
6. Priority Assignment if applicant in Burundi differs from applicant of priority document - can be late filed within 3 months.

We estimate that the cost of filing a design application in Burundi will be about US$ 3000.00.  To this must be added the fees for claiming each priority date at about US$ 110.00 per priority claim.

HOW TO REGISTER A TRADE MARK

1. Filing requirements
   1. Full name, street address and description of the applicant (including trading style, if any, and state/country of incorporation, if incorporated)
   2. List of goods and/or services.
   3. A simply signed power of attorney.
   4. Clear print of device mark.
   5. If Convention priority is claimed: a certified copy of the basic application together with a verified French translation thereof.
      
      
2. Classification
   1. The International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification) is applied
   2. Multi-class - Yes.
      
      
3. General
   1. a) Duration: 10 years from date of application and renewable for further periods of 10 years
      b) Duration if priority claimed: 10 years from priority date and renewable from further periods of 10 years
   2. Use :  Not required but advisable.
   3. Marking : Not required, but advisable.
   4. Licenses : No provision to record a license officially.  Licensees can be appointed by private contract.
   5. Assignments : Of pending applications are permitted.
   6. Searches available within approximately 2-3 weeks from instruction and are conducted on an online official register.