African Regional Intellectual Property Organization

Governments around the world have implemented a wide range of protocols to control the spread of COVID-19 throughout their jurisdictions. The various intellectual property offices have recognised this is an unprecedented situation that may have an impact on the ability of right holders, applicants, opponents and their representatives to meet deadlines associated with their intellectual property rights.

●April 16　Source: www.aripo.org

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday, 11 March 2020, declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic and called all countries to activate and scale up their emergency response mechanisms. On 17 March 2020, the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe declared COVID-19 a National Disaster and enumerated some measures that would help stem the spread of the virus. The Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe mandated a national lockdown for 21 days starting on 30 March 2020.

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) understands the seriousness with which Zimbabwe and the World at large have taken the issue of COVID-19 pandemic and appreciates the need to mitigate against the spread of the virus especially in the workplace.

In this regard and to contain the spread of the virus as well as ensuring continuity of its business operations, ARIPO:

●Informs the users that the Office remains operational;

●Advises users to continue taking advantage of its 24-hour online services to file applications and make online payments; and

●Discourages walk-in enquiries AND urges users to make enquiries by email and telephone during its operating hours which remain unchanged.