Frequently Asked Questions

The process at BRELA typically takes 12–24 months from filing to registration, assuming no objections. Examination takes 2–4 months; accepted marks are published for 60 days for opposition; registration follows shortly after.

BRELA administers trademarks on mainland Tanzania under the Trade and Service Marks Act. BPRA administers trademarks in Zanzibar under the Zanzibar Trade Marks Act. They are entirely separate jurisdictions — a BRELA registration does not cover Zanzibar, and vice versa.

Yes — through the ARIPO Banjul Protocol, a single application can designate up to 13 active African member states. However, Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya are NOT covered by the Banjul Protocol and require separate national filings. ABA IP is an accredited ARIPO direct agent.

Official BRELA fees are TZS 50,000 on application and TZS 60,000 on registration, per class. BPRA (Zanzibar) fees are TZS 150,000 on application and TZS 100,000 on registration, per class. See our Official Fees page for the complete schedule.

Copyright arises automatically in Tanzania without registration. However, registering with COSOTA provides prima facie evidence of ownership in enforcement proceedings, makes licensing easier, and ensures you receive royalties collected by COSOTA on your behalf.

The Harare Protocol is ARIPO's protocol for patents and industrial designs. It allows a single patent application to designate any ARIPO member states. It is separate from the Banjul Protocol, which covers trademarks.

A patent granted by BRELA or under the ARIPO Harare Protocol is valid for 20 years from the filing date, subject to payment of annual renewal fees.

Options include sending a cease-and-desist letter, filing an opposition or cancellation at BRELA, recording your rights with TRA for customs enforcement, or bringing court proceedings in the High Court of Tanzania. We advise on the most appropriate strategy for each situation.

Trade secrets are protected in Tanzania under the law of confidence and employment law. There is no specific trade secrets statute, but courts have recognised and enforced trade secret rights. NDAs and employment contracts with confidentiality provisions are essential.

You need a separate trademark registration at BPRA — the Business and Property Registration Agency in Zanzibar. Zanzibar has its own Trade Marks Act and separate trademark registry. ABA IP files directly at BPRA from our Dar es Salaam office.

No. Burundi is an ARIPO observer state only, not a full member, and has not ratified the Banjul Protocol on trademarks. An ARIPO trademark designation does not protect your mark in Burundi. A separate national filing in Burundi is required for trademark protection there.

No. Rwanda is an ARIPO full member but has not ratified the Banjul Protocol on trademarks. Rwanda trademark protection requires a direct national filing at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Rwanda is covered by the ARIPO Harare Protocol for patents.

No. Kenya is an ARIPO full member but has not ratified the Banjul Protocol. Kenya trademark registration must be done directly at the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI). ABA IP works with accredited KIPI agents for Kenya filings.

Effective 1 March 2026, ARIPO doubled its application fee from USD 100 to USD 200 (paper filing) and USD 80 to USD 160 (electronic). Registration per state increased from USD 100 to USD 150, and renewal per state doubled from USD 100 to USD 200. Contact us for a full cost breakdown before filing.

The official BRELA trademark application fee is TZS 50,000 per class (Form TM/SM 2), as set in the First Schedule of the Trade and Service Marks Regulations, G.N. No. 40 of 2000. The registration fee (Form TM/SM 8) is an additional TZS 60,000 per class.

Under the BPRA (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2025 (L.N. No. 55 of 2025), the BPRA trademark application fee is TZS 150,000 per class, publication fee TZS 30,000, and registration fee TZS 100,000 per class. Renewal is TZS 80,000 per class.

This is becoming possible under Tanzania's new Secured Transactions framework. In Zanzibar, the BPRA (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2025 already include fees for registering security interests in IP (TZS 50,000 for registering a security agreement). The mainland Tanzania Secured Transactions Bill is expected to provide a comprehensive framework for using IP as movable property collateral.

A BRELA trademark is initially registered for 7 years from the date of registration. It is then renewable for successive 10-year periods indefinitely, as long as renewal fees are paid on time.

If the renewal fee is not paid by the expiry date, the mark may be removed from the register after one month. You can restore the mark by paying the renewal fee (TZS 30,000 per class) plus a late fee (TZS 30,000) and a restoration fee (TZS 30,000) — a total of TZS 90,000 per class in official fees, plus professional fees.

Yes. Foreign companies can apply for trademark registration at BRELA and BPRA. A foreign applicant must appoint an authorised trademark agent based in Tanzania to represent them in the proceedings. ABA IP represents foreign clients before BRELA, BPRA and ARIPO.

After a trademark application is accepted and published in the Trade and Service Marks Journal, any person may file a Notice of Opposition within 60 days of the date of publication. The opposition fee is TZS 60,000 (Form TM/SM 5).

BRELA registration covers mainland Tanzania only. It does not cover Zanzibar, which has a separate trademark registry (BPRA). Businesses operating in both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar need separate registrations at both BRELA and BPRA.

The Nice Classification is an international system dividing goods and services into 45 classes (1–34 for goods, 35–45 for services). Tanzania uses the Nice Classification. You must apply for trademark registration in the specific class or classes covering your goods or services. Each class requires a separate fee.

Tanzanian residents and companies can file directly at BRELA without an agent, though the process can be complex. Foreign applicants must appoint an authorised agent. Using an experienced trademark agent significantly reduces the risk of errors that could result in refusal or delays.

A clearance search checks the BRELA (and/or BPRA/ARIPO) register for existing marks that could conflict with your proposed trademark. It is strongly recommended before filing, as filing fees are non-refundable, and discovering a conflict after filing — or after you have launched your brand — can be very costly. ABA IP conducts thorough clearance searches.

COSOTA (Copyright Society of Tanzania) collects royalties from broadcasters, hotels, bars, restaurants and other venues that use music and other copyright works. It distributes these royalties to registered rights holders based on the use of their works. Rights holders must register their works with COSOTA and update their contact details to ensure they receive their distributions.

Neighbouring rights (also called related rights) protect performers, producers of sound recordings and broadcasting organisations. In Tanzania, performers have the right to control the recording and broadcast of their performances and to receive equitable remuneration when their recorded performances are played in public or broadcast. These rights are separate from, and additional to, the copyright in the underlying musical composition.

Yes, pharmaceutical inventions can be patented in Tanzania if they meet the standard patentability requirements (novelty, inventive step, industrial applicability). However, Tanzania has adopted TRIPS flexibilities, including the ability to issue compulsory licences for pharmaceutical patents in public health emergencies. Patent term is 20 years from filing.

The WIPO Madrid Protocol allows trademark owners to file a single international application covering 130+ countries. Tanzanian businesses can use the Madrid system to protect their marks globally, using their BRELA registration as the 'basic mark.' Conversely, foreign brand owners can designate Tanzania as part of a Madrid international registration — BRELA then examines the designation under Tanzanian law.

For M&A transactions involving Tanzanian businesses, IP due diligence should cover: ownership verification of all registered IP (searches at BRELA, BPRA, ARIPO, COSOTA); review of employment contracts for IP assignment provisions; review of technology licences for change-of-control clauses; assessment of any pending IP disputes; and open source software audit for software businesses. ABA IP conducts full IP due diligence reports for transactions across Tanzania and East Africa.