What is the best patent option for Africa – SANi, ARIPO or OAPI?
The SANi combination patent covers the most GDP and the economic powerhouses of Arica – South Africa and Nigeria. In fact, the SANi patent covers countries with a greater total GDP than ARIPO and OAPI combined.
ARIPO covers the most countries – up to 22 member States (Botswana, Cape Verde, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) and the highest population. Be critical regarding the member States selected, as this has a significant effect on renewal costs.
OAPI covers the most French-speaking African countries towards the North of the African continent – 17 member (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros (except Mayotte), Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo). An OAPI application automatically covers all member States.
Which African patent option is the most affordable?
The SANi combination patent is more affordable than the ARIPO and OAPI patents. Furthermore, whereas the ARIPO and OAPI patents are subject to examination, the SANi combination patent is not subject to examination.
The SANi combination patent also permits pre-payment of renewal fees “to term” (i.e. for the entire 20 years). This significantly reduces the lifetime cost of a SANi combination patent.
SANi patent filing cost (filing to courier of certificates): $875
SANi total renewal cost (for all 20 years): $875
Which African patent option is the simplest and fastest to grant?
Since SANi combination patents are not subject to examination, the process from filing to issuance of the certificates is formalistic and easy. SANi combination patents may also be amended after grant to narow the scope of the claims.
Certificates for the SANi combination patent are typically received within 6-9 months of filing. Since ARIPO and OAPI patents are subject to examination, issuance of ARIPO and OAPI patent certificates takes longer.
