The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a member of the Paris Convention and the WTO/TRIPS. Patent protection is available in the DRC by way of a national filing. The DRC is a signatory to the Paris Convention and a national filing can claim convention priority. The DRC is not a member of the PCT, ARIPO, or OAPI. It is to be noted that foreign applicants must be represented by an agent in the DRC.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is a member of the Paris Convention and the WTO/TRIPS.

Protection for industrial designs is available in the DRC only by way of a national filing. As the DRC is a signatory to the Paris Convention, such a national filing can claim convention priority.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a member of the Berne Convention, the Phonograms Convention and WTO/TRIPS.

The Law provides for copyright in respect of all works by authors, regardless of the type, the form of expression or the merit, including:

• books, pamphlets, brochures and other writings of a literary, artistic or scientific nature
• lectures, addresses, sermons, commentaries, whether oral or written
• dramatic and dramatico-musical works, including choreographic works, pantomimes
• musical works
• cinematographic and audiovisual works
• works of art, architecture, painting, drawing, sculpture, lithography, etc
• photographic works
• works of applied art or craft
• illustrations, geographical charts, plastic works relating to geography, topography, architecture
• works of folklore
• translations, adaptations, arrangements of works
• collections of works.

Currently, no legislative provision for plant breeders’ rights or other sui generis protection for plants is available in Democratic Republic of the Congo.