South African patent filings increase by 35% in 2021

Amazingly, COVID increased South African patent filings by +35% in 2021, which exceptional growth continued into 2022.

How?

The significant increase in South African patent filings is largely due to law firms choosing to file South African patents through the GlobalIPCo online system, and to the South African Patent Office’s efforts in significantly reducing the time to grant patents.

Also, remote working resulted in:

• an accelerated acceptance of online systems for filing patents; and

• many applicants conducting research and choosing to file South African national phase patents (with upfront payment of all 20 years of renewals) for under $600 (discounted price available to law firms).

The South African Patent Office deserves much appreciation and praise for adopting online systems and for being open to work with other online systems to increase the efficiency (and reduce the cost) of South African patents.

Well done to the South African Patent Office – the stand-out Patent Office worldwide for 2021!

Why not do something special for trademarks in 2021?

Now, isn’t it time for South Africa to join the Madrid Protocol and to become the top performing Trademarks Office in 2022? After +20 years of talking, let’s finally implement it.