ARIPO’s Overhauled Trade Mark System Goes Live on 1 March 2026
Effective 1 March 2026, the revised Banjul Protocol is set to modernises the ARIPO trade mark system.
Important Topics
ARIPO’s Overhauled Trade Mark System Goes Live on 1 March 2026
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has implemented one of its most substantial reforms through the revision of the Banjul Protocol, set to take effect on 1 March 2026.
The changes introduce a streamlined four‑part legal structure, clearer definitions, including formal recognition of an “ARIPO Mark”, and significant procedural improvements such as reduced examination timelines and strict opposition periods. These updates create a more digitised, and efficient administrative system, signalling a strengthened commitment to coordinated regional trade mark protection.
Businesses using ARIPO for regional filings should prepare for faster timelines and stricter opposition windows from 1 March 2026
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