SANi Patent – Process, cost and timeline

A SANi Patent, which covers South Africa and Nigeria, is the easiest, quickest and most affordable way to secure patent protection in Africa.

The SANi Patent fills the “gaps” between the ARIPO and OAPI Patents and issues certificates of grant within 5-9 months of filing.

SANi Patent options

To maximise the efficiency of a SANi Patent, we suggest:

• requesting accelerated acceptance of the South African patent component (at no additional cost). This is possible if the PCT examination report found at least one claim to be novel and inventive;
• delaying amendment of the patent until infringement proceedings are contemplated;
• filing the SANi Patent via S&Z ($875) or via the GlobalIPCo online filing system; and
• paying all renewals for the 20-year term upfront (“Vicennial Renewal“) for only $875 via S&Z.

Following these suggestions will significantly reduce the lifetime cost of your SANi, South African and Nigerian patents.

Amendment

Since South African and Nigerian patent law permits amendment of patents after grant (provided that the scope of the claims is not increased), narrowing amendments may be delayed until action is intended against an infringer. Delaying the amendment will also enable the amendment to be tailored to fit the infringer’s product / method.

About GlobalIPCo

The GlobalIPCo system is the largest filer of patents in Africa, filing about 5,000 patents per year.

By automating patent filings in Africa, the GlobalIPCo system has significantly reduced patent costs and reduced the time from filing to courier of the patent certificate.

[The SANi patent is not the creation of a Treaty]