Gambia
Information on the filing of Patents, Designs and trademarks in Gambia

PATENT REGISTRATIONS

Gambia is a member of the International Convention (from 21 January 1992), ARIPO (from 16 January 1986), and the PCT (from 9 December 1997).

At present, the only way to obtain valid patent protection is by the re-registration of a granted UK or European (UK) patent as local legislation has not yet been enacted to support a national phase PCT application or an ARIPO application. However, as such re-registration can only be done after grant of the UK or European (UK) patent, a change in local legislation before such grant may result in the re-registration route being closed at that time.

Accordingly, we recommend that an ARIPO application designating Gambia be filed which should be enforceable retrospectively once Gambia has enacted local legislation. Otherwise, an informal national phase PCT application can be filed in Gambia to meet the deadline so that later enactment of local legislation will hopefully recognize such informal filing retrospectively.

The filing requirements for re-registration of a granted UK or European (UK) patent in Gambia are as follows (must be lodged within 3 years of grant of the UK or European (UK) patent):

(a) A Power of Attorney - no legalization or notarization necessary;
(b) Two certified copies of the basic granted UK or European (UK) patent; and
(c) Certificate from the British Comptroller providing particulars of the granted British patent.

The requirements for filing a national phase PCT application in Gambia are as follows:

(a) A Power of Attorney - no legalization or notarization necessary;
(b) A copy of the PCT publication; and
(c) A verified English translation of the specification (including claims, drawings, and abstract).

We estimate that the cost of re-registering a granted UK or European (UK) patent in Gambia or filing a national phase PCT application in Gambia will be between about US$ 2500.00 and US$ 2800.00 (excluding translation costs, if necessary).