Democratic Republic of the Congo: three types of patents
In many countries, a patent can only be registered if it is new, has an inventive step, and is industrially applicable. In addition to meeting these substantial requirements, you also must meet other formal requirements, including legal deadlines.
It turns out that in many jurisdictions there are types of patents with substantial lighter requirements, namely utility models.
However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) chooses to specify three other types of patents: “Art.5. There shall be three types of patents: invention patents, import patents, and improvement patents.” (Article 5, Law No. 82-001 of January 7, 1982, on Industrial Property)
The rules on invention patents are the traditional ones, present in most countries. Any invention which, arising from inventive activity, is capable of being exploited as the subject matter of industry or trade, shall be patentable.
Regarding the others, the following is stipulated:
