Online Patents, Trademarks and Designs

Patents

The best way to protect an idea is to patent it. Start by filing a South African “provisional patent” online through either GlobalIPCo for $49 or Iptica for $99.

A South African provisional patent reserves your right to file patents in most countries of the world. The next step is to file an international / “PCT patent”. This must be done within 12 months of filing the provisional patent, and extends your right to register patents in 148 countries for a further 18 months. By 30 months from filing your provisional patent, you must file “national phase patents” in your target countries (suggest South Africa, Nigeria, EU, US, Australia and ARIPO). Following examination (which typically takes between 6 and 24 months), your patent should be registered and annual renewal fees will be payable.

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Trademarks

Protect your brand (mark / logo) by filing a trademark. This will prevent others from using a confusingly similar mark for similar products / services. Your rights can be renewed in perpetuity for periods of 10 years.

A trademark protects your brand. Protect your name by filing a word trademark (e.g. “Nike”). Protect your logo by filing a device trademark (e.g. Nike’s Swoosh). Trademarks even protect pay-off lines (e.g. “just do it”). Registration typically takes 12-14 months.

COST (excl. vat): SA registrability search R2,500; SA trademark R4,090; renewal fees R1,295.

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Design

Register a design to protect the shape of your product. Start by filing a South African design through GlobalIPCo for $299. Then, register the design in other countries (e.g. EU for Euro556) within the next 6 months. Designs typically take about 3-9 months to become registered, whereafter annual renewal fees will be payable.

A South African registered design will prevent others within South Africa from making, importing, selling and using a copy of your product for up to 15 years.

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Prototype

SERVICE SUSPENDED:
Before patenting your idea, prototype it. This will confirm that your invention works. And, improvements made during this phase can be added to your patent – we guarantee confidentiality and assign all resultant intellectual property to you. Visit our specialist prototyping website – www.ideaprototype.co.za.

We convert your idea into a sexy 3D prototype (with rendered drawings and A1 poster) … specifically designed to attract funders. We call this a “funding prototype”.

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Renewals

Pay your patent renewal / annuity / maintenance fee online and save up to 70% on renewal fees!

Why use us to renew your patent?

• cost savings of up to 70%
• easy migration – enter your patent number, the software extracts the data
• displays your patent to confirm the correct patent number
• adds your patents to your portfolio
• free renewal reminders by e-mail
• manage and maintain a live record of your patents
• add new patent and pay renewal in under 2 minutes
• pay on-line by credit card or apply for preferred payment status
• South African patent renewals from R690

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