Country Overview
Ethiopia (population approx. 132 million, 2024) is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies and a key investment destination in the Horn of Africa. Historically outside the major international IP frameworks, Ethiopia marked a major turning point in 2025 by acceding to both the Paris Convention and the Madrid Protocol, effective August 15, 2025. This integration allows for priority claims and international trademark designations, significantly modernizing the protection landscape for foreign investors.
As a landlocked nation with a state-led development model now transitioning toward liberalization, Ethiopia is focusing on manufacturing, agriculture, and energy. The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA) serves as the centralized body for IP administration. The legal system is civil law-based, and recent reforms are aligning national laws with international treaty obligations to facilitate trade and foreign direct investment.
Ethiopia IP System Overview
Ethiopia is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
- Paris Convention: Member (Effective August 15, 2025).
- Madrid Protocol: Member (Effective August 15, 2025).
- PCT: Ethiopia is not currently a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
National IP Authority: Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA).
This section provides a high-level overview of jurisdiction-specific IP protection requirements and is not intended to be comprehensive. For advice on your specific matter, please contact our IP experts.
- Filing System and Classification:
Ethiopia follows a national trademark registration system and is not part of any regional African IP framework. Trademark applications are examined and registered by the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPO). The country applies the Nice Classification for goods and services and allows multi-class applications, provided all classes relate to the same trademark. Each application may cover only one mark. Historically, trademark protection was available only through national filing. - Term of Protection and Renewals:
Trademark registrations in Ethiopia are valid for seven years from the filing date and may be renewed indefinitely for further seven-year periods. Renewal applications can be filed within twelve months before expiry. A grace period of up to nine months after expiration is available for late renewal without requiring proof of use. Failure to renew within this period results in lapse of the registration. - International Frameworks:
Ethiopia acceded to the Paris Convention and the Madrid Protocol in 2024–2025, with both entering into force on August 15, 2025. As a result, Ethiopia now formally recognizes Paris Convention priority rights and may be designated in international trademark applications through the Madrid System. Ethiopia remains outside regional trademark systems such as ARIPO (Banjul Protocol) and OAPI. - Priority Claim Availability:
Trademark applications in Ethiopia may claim priority within six months of an earlier foreign application under the Paris Convention. The priority claim must be declared at filing, and a certified copy of the earlier application must be submitted within three months. Following accession to the Madrid Protocol, Ethiopia also accepts priority claims for incoming Madrid designations filed within the same six-month window. - Examination and Opposition:
The EIPO conducts both formal and substantive examination, assessing compliance, distinctiveness, and conflicts with prior marks. Accepted applications are published for opposition in two newspapers (English and Amharic) and the IP Gazette. The opposition period is sixty days from publication, with possible extensions of up to an additional sixty days. If no opposition is filed or any opposition is resolved in favor of the applicant, the mark proceeds to registration. - Registration Timelines:
Trademark registration in Ethiopia can be completed in as little as three months in straightforward cases. In practice, most registrations take approximately six to twelve months due to examination and publication timelines. Applications are typically published within two to four months of filing, followed by the opposition period. - Key Filing Formalities:
Foreign applicants must appoint a local agent and submit a power of attorney legalized up to an Ethiopian Consulate at the time of filing, as late submission is not permitted. Applicants must also provide a certified and notarized copy of their certificate of incorporation or business license, with an authenticated English translation. All documents must be in English or Amharic. Electronic filing is not currently available to foreign applicants. - Maintenance Requirements:
Registered trademarks may be cancelled if not used for three consecutive years following registration. Owners are therefore advised to commence genuine use of the mark in Ethiopia within this period. While no proof of use is required for renewal and no periodic use declarations are mandated, maintaining evidence of use is recommended to defend against non-use cancellation actions.
- Filing System and Patentability:
Ethiopia operates a national patent system governed by the Inventions (Patent) Proclamation No. 123/1995 and its regulations. Patents must be filed directly with the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPO), as Ethiopia is not a member of ARIPO or the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Patent protection is available for inventions that are new, involve an inventive step, and are industrially applicable. Excluded subject matter includes inventions contrary to public order or morality, plant or animal varieties and essentially biological processes, business methods, mathematical methods, and methods of medical treatment (although related products may be patented). Ethiopian law also recognizes utility models and patents of introduction, though standard patents remain the primary form of protection. - Term of Protection and Maintenance:
Patents in Ethiopia are granted for an initial term of fifteen years from the filing date. This term may be extended by an additional five years, reaching a maximum of twenty years, provided the patent owner demonstrates that the invention is being worked in Ethiopia or that there are legitimate reasons for non-working. Annual maintenance (annuity) fees are payable to keep the patent in force, generally starting from the filing date. A six-month grace period is typically allowed for late payment with a surcharge. Failure to pay annuities results in lapse of the patent, and no renewal is possible beyond the twenty-year maximum term. - International Frameworks:
Ethiopia is not a member of the PCT and does not participate in any regional African patent system. It joined the Paris Convention in August 2025, formally recognizing priority rights for patent applications. Although Ethiopia has observer status in ARIPO, it has not acceded to the Harare Protocol, meaning ARIPO patents do not extend to Ethiopia. As a result, foreign applicants must file directly with EIPO, typically within the twelve-month Paris priority period. Ethiopia’s accession to the WTO is ongoing, and while not yet bound by TRIPS, its patent law broadly reflects core TRIPS principles. - Priority Claim Availability:
Ethiopian patent law allows applicants to claim priority from an earlier foreign application. As a Paris Convention member, Ethiopia permits priority claims for patent applications filed within twelve months of the earliest foreign filing. The priority must be declared at filing, and a certified copy of the earlier application, along with an English or Amharic translation if necessary, must be submitted. There is no mechanism for restoring missed priority claims. - Examination and Opposition:
The EIPO conducts a formal examination of all patent applications to verify compliance with filing requirements, including the application form, description, claims, abstract, drawings, fees, and power of attorney. While the law provides for substantive examination, practical examination capacity is limited. Ethiopian patent law does not provide for pre-grant publication or opposition. Patents are granted without a formal opposition phase, and any challenges to validity must be brought after grant through court proceedings, such as invalidation or compulsory licensing actions. - Registration Timelines:
There is no fixed statutory timeframe for patent grant in Ethiopia. In straightforward cases, patents may be granted within approximately two to three years from filing. However, delays are common due to administrative and examination constraints. Accelerated examination procedures are not available. Once granted, patent rights take effect retroactively from the filing date. - Key Filing Formalities:
Patent applications must be filed in English or Amharic. A filing date is accorded once the application includes a request form, description, one or more claims, and any required drawings. A legalized power of attorney is required when an agent acts on behalf of the applicant and must be filed at the time of filing or within two months thereafter. If the applicant is not the inventor, a duly notarized and legalized assignment must be submitted. Foreign corporate applicants must also provide a certified copy of their certificate of incorporation. All filings are paper-based, as electronic filing is not currently available. - Maintenance Requirements:
In addition to annual maintenance fees, Ethiopian patent law imposes a working requirement. If a patent is not worked in Ethiopia within three years from grant, or if working ceases for two consecutive years, the patent may be subject to compulsory licensing or revocation at the request of an interested party. Proof of working is required to obtain the five-year term extension beyond fifteen years. Working may be satisfied through local manufacture or sufficient importation to meet market demand. Patent owners are therefore advised to actively exploit or license their inventions in Ethiopia to maintain enforceability and avoid challenges.
- Filing System and Coverage:
Industrial designs in Ethiopia are governed by the Industrial Designs provisions of Proclamation No. 123/1995. Protection is available only through national filing with the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPO), as Ethiopia is not a member of any regional or international design systems, including ARIPO or the Hague Agreement. An industrial design must be new and possess a distinctive visual appearance. Protection covers the ornamental and aesthetic features of an article, such as shape, pattern, or color, and does not extend to technical or functional features. - Term of Protection and Renewals:
A registered industrial design is protected for an initial term of five years from the filing date. The registration may be renewed for two additional five-year terms, resulting in a maximum protection period of fifteen years. Renewal fees must be paid at the end of each term. A grace period, typically up to six months, is available for late renewal subject to a surcharge. If a renewal is not effected, the design lapses and enters the public domain. - International Frameworks:
Ethiopia acceded to the Paris Convention in August 2025. Even prior to accession, Ethiopian law allowed priority claims for industrial designs filed within six months of an earlier foreign application. Ethiopia is not a member of the Hague System or any regional African design framework. As a result, foreign applicants must seek protection through direct national filing with EIPO. - Priority Claim Availability:
Priority may be claimed for an Ethiopian industrial design application if it is filed within six months of an earlier foreign application. The priority claim must be declared at filing, and a certified copy of the foreign application, together with an English or Amharic translation if required, must be submitted within the prescribed period, generally three months from the Ethiopian filing date. - Examination and Publication:
Industrial design applications are subject to formal examination by EIPO to confirm compliance with filing requirements and payment of fees. Substantive examination of novelty is not routinely conducted. If the application is formally compliant, the design is registered and a certificate is issued. Registered designs are subsequently published in the official gazette, but there is no pre-registration publication or opposition procedure. - Opposition and Invalidation:
Ethiopian law does not provide an opposition period for industrial designs. However, any interested party may seek invalidation of a registered design through the courts on grounds such as lack of novelty, purely functional character, or conflict with public order or morality. Invalidation proceedings are handled by the civil courts, as there is no specialized administrative IP tribunal. - Key Filing Formalities:
An industrial design application must include a request for registration, applicant details, and clear drawings or photographs illustrating the design, typically consisting of four to seven views. A brief description identifying the novel aesthetic features may be required, and any claimed color features must be specified. Applications must be filed in English or Amharic. A legalized power of attorney is required for representation by an agent, and where the applicant is not the designer, an assignment or declaration from the creator must be submitted. Priority documents may be filed within the regulatory deadline, usually within ninety days. - Maintenance Requirements:
No annual maintenance fees apply to industrial designs in Ethiopia. The only ongoing requirement is timely renewal at the end of the fifth and tenth years. There is no use requirement, and non-use does not expose a design to cancellation. Enforcement is the responsibility of the design owner, who may pursue civil remedies and, in certain cases, criminal sanctions against infringement. Upon expiry of the fifteen-year term, design rights terminate permanently.
- Protected Works and Scope:
Copyright protection in Ethiopia is governed by the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Protection Proclamation (2004, as amended in 2014). Literary, artistic, and scientific works are protected automatically from the moment of creation, without any registration requirement. Protected works include written works, speeches and lectures, musical works with or without lyrics, dramatic and choreographic works, audiovisual works such as films, works of fine art, photographs, architectural works, maps, and technical drawings. Computer software is expressly protected as a literary work. Ethiopian law also recognizes neighboring rights covering performances, sound recordings, and broadcasts. Although registration is not required, Ethiopia maintains a voluntary copyright registry that provides prima facie evidence of ownership and creation date. Transfers of copyright, including assignments of economic rights, must be registered to be effective against third parties. - Term of Protection:
For most works, economic copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus fifty years after death. In the case of joint works, protection continues for fifty years after the death of the last surviving author. Certain categories are subject to fixed terms: photographic works and works of applied art are protected for twenty-five years from creation or first publication, audiovisual works for fifty years from publication, sound recordings for fifty years from publication, and broadcasts for twenty years from the year of broadcast. Moral rights, including the right of attribution and the right to object to distortion or mutilation of the work, are perpetual and do not expire. Upon expiration of economic rights, works enter the public domain while moral rights remain intact. - International Frameworks:
Ethiopia has been a member of the Berne Convention since July 14, 2008, providing national treatment to foreign works from other Berne member countries and prohibiting formalities as a condition of protection. Ethiopia is not yet a member of the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) or the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), but legislative amendments in 2014 introduced modern protections consistent with international standards. Ethiopia’s accession to the WTO is ongoing, and its copyright regime already substantially complies with TRIPS requirements. Ethiopia is also a party to the Marrakesh Treaty, supporting access to works for persons with visual impairments. - Priority and Formalities:
Copyright does not operate on a priority system comparable to patents or trademarks. Protection arises automatically upon creation, regardless of registration or publication. Registration with the Ethiopian Copyright Office is optional and may be used as evidentiary support in enforcement proceedings. Ethiopian law requires that assignments and exclusive licenses of copyright be made in writing and registered to be enforceable against third parties. The use of copyright notices, local publication, or deposit of copies is not mandatory. - Enforcement and Limitations:
Copyright owners enjoy exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, rent, perform, display, broadcast, translate, and adapt their works. The law provides limitations and exceptions for purposes such as quotation, education, news reporting, and other permitted uses. Unauthorized commercial exploitation of copyrighted works may give rise to civil liability and criminal penalties, including fines and confiscation of infringing goods. Customs measures may be applied to infringing imports. Foreign works from Berne member countries are protected without registration, and enforcement actions may be initiated directly upon infringement. - Related Rights:
Ethiopian law grants neighboring rights to performers, producers of sound recordings, and broadcasting organizations. Performers’ rights last for fifty years from the date of performance, producers of sound recordings are protected for fifty years from publication, and broadcasting organizations enjoy protection for twenty years from the year of broadcast. These rights are subject to similar exceptions and enforcement mechanisms as authors’ rights. Amendments in 2014 strengthened the protection of related rights, aligning them more closely with international standards, even though Ethiopia is not formally a party to the WPPT.
Addis Ababa
Office No. 402, Yeka Sub-City, Woreda 07,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Global Reach
With a presence across 20+ jurisdictions spanning the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, UTMPS delivers comprehensive IP solutions tailored to local requirements.
Outside our footprint, we coordinate matters through a carefully vetted network of trusted IP associates worldwide.
