Angola - Patents

International Arrangements:

• WIPO (from 15 August 1985)
• PCT (from 27 December 2007)
• Paris Convention (from 27 December 2007)

Note: The law in Angola has not yet been amended to recognize the PCT and if national phase applications are filed, it is uncertain as to whether or not any enforceable rights will be granted. Until the law has been amended to provide for PCT national phase applications, we recommend that national patent applications be filed within the 12 month priority period.

Types of Patents Available:

• Patents of Invention
• National Phase PCT application

Novelty Requirements:
Absolute novelty is required.
However, novelty will not be destroyed if the disclosure of the invention to the public occurred not earlier than six months preceding the filing date or where applicable the priority date, and it was as a consequence of:

• acts committed by the applicant or his predecessor in title, or 
• an abuse committed by a third party with regard to the applicant or his predecessor in title.

Filing Requirements:
   Patent of Invention:

• Power of Attorney (notarised and legalised) (can be late filed within two months)
• Specification, claims and abstract in Portuguese (an English specification can be filed provided a Portuguese title is filed with the English specification, and a verified Portuguese translation must be filed shortly thereafter)
• Formal drawings, if applicable, (required on the day of filing)
• International Patent Classification (can be late filed, no set deadline)
• Assignment of Invention (notarised and legalised) (can be late filed within three months)
• Priority document with verified Portuguese translation of the covering page (can be late filed within three months)

   National Phase PCT Application:
   Angola patent legislation does not make provision for PCT applications, nor are filing requirements for such    applications specified. At present, we advise applicants to lodge the same documents as for a non-PCT    application, plus the following:

• Copy of International Publication
• Copy of International Search report
• Copy of International Preliminary Report on Patentability

Grant:
The term of a patent is fifteen years from the filing date.

Renewal:
Renewal fees fall due annually from the first anniversary of the filing date.

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