Our IP Services | ABA IP Consultants Tanzania

Core Practice Areas

Everything your IP needs, under one roof

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Trademark Registration

Register your brand before BRELA (mainland), BPRA (Zanzibar) and ARIPO — covering 22 African states in a single Banjul Protocol application.

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Patent Filing

Protect your inventions through BRELA and ARIPO's Harare Protocol, including PCT national phase entries across East and Central Africa.

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Register creative works with COSOTA on the mainland and the Copyright Board of Zanzibar — books, music, software, film, art and more.

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Industrial Designs

Protect the visual appearance of your products — shape, colour, material, texture — across Tanzania, Zanzibar and the ARIPO design system.

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IP Enforcement

Cease-and-desist letters, BRELA oppositions, cancellations, and full litigation before Tanzania and Zanzibar courts against infringers.

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IP Audits & Due Diligence

Comprehensive audits, valuations, and M&A due diligence across all IP asset classes — essential before investment, acquisition or licensing.

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Trademark

Trademark Registration in Tanzania & East Africa

A registered trademark is your most powerful commercial asset — it gives you the exclusive right to use your brand name, logo or slogan in commerce and prevents competitors from free-riding on your goodwill.

We handle trademark registration before BRELA (mainland Tanzania), BPRA (Zanzibar), and ARIPO under the Banjul Protocol — one application covering up to 22 African states simultaneously.

Step 01

Clearance Search

We search the BRELA, BPRA and ARIPO registries before filing to assess registrability and identify conflicts.

Step 02

Application Filing

We prepare and file the application, selecting the right classes and drafting goods/services specifications to maximise protection.

Step 03

Prosecution & Registration

We monitor the application, respond to any examiner objections, and attend to publication and opposition periods through to registration.

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Patent

Patent Filing — BRELA, ARIPO & PCT

A patent gives you a time-limited monopoly over your invention, preventing others from making, using or selling it without your authorisation. In East Africa, patent protection is available through national filings at BRELA and through ARIPO's Harare Protocol.

All our patent practitioners have technical backgrounds and are qualified to act before BRELA and as ARIPO direct agents. We also handle PCT national phase entries for clients entering Tanzania from an international patent application.

BRELA

National Tanzania Patent

Direct national filing at the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency — protection in mainland Tanzania.

ARIPO

Regional Harare Protocol

One application covering up to 22 ARIPO member states — the most cost-effective route to pan-African patent protection.

PCT

International National Phase

We handle PCT national phase entries into Tanzania and the ARIPO regional phase for applications originating internationally.

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Copyright Registration in Tanzania & Zanzibar

Copyright protects original literary, artistic, musical, cinematic and software works from the moment they are created. While copyright arises automatically under Tanzanian law, registration with COSOTA (mainland) or the Copyright Board of Zanzibar provides important evidentiary benefits and makes enforcement significantly easier.

We advise on the scope of copyright protection, register works with the relevant authorities, draft licensing and assignment agreements, and enforce copyright against infringers through cease-and-desist, licensing negotiation or litigation.

Enforcement

IP Enforcement & Litigation

Owning registered IP rights is only half the battle — you also need to enforce them. Our enforcement team handles everything from the first cease-and-desist letter through to High Court litigation.

We advise on the most cost-effective strategy for each situation, whether that is a warning letter, a BRELA opposition or cancellation action, or full court proceedings in Tanzania or Zanzibar.

Civil

Injunctions & Damages

Applications for interim and permanent injunctions, account of profits and damages before the High Court of Tanzania.

Administrative

BRELA Oppositions & Cancellations

Filing and defending opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Registrar of Trade Marks at BRELA.

Customs

Border Detention

Recording IP rights with Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to enable customs officials to detain infringing goods at the border.

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Designs

Industrial Designs & IP Strategy

Industrial Designs protect the visual appearance of products — their shape, configuration, colour or ornamentation. Design rights are registered at BRELA and through the ARIPO design system, giving commercial protection for the aesthetic of your products.

IP Strategy is the body of planned measures a business adopts to use intellectual property to secure competitive advantage. We help businesses conduct IP audits, develop IP portfolios aligned to commercial goals, structure licensing and technology transfer, and identify and manage IP risk during investment and M&A transactions.

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