On 1 October 2024, Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers approved Ethiopia’s accession to the following international agreements:

  • The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
  • The Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks

The ratification documents are now with the Ethiopian Federal Parliament for approval. The Parliament will conduct a first reading and refer the documents to the relevant committee for further study and review. The committee will then schedule a public hearing and provide its recommendations.

Ratification of the two instruments will necessitate legislative reforms, and the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA) is working on revisions to the current IP laws, in consultation with local practitioners.

Whilst there is still much detail to be worked out, this is generally a positive development, as Ethiopia’s accession to these treaties, and the modernisation of its IP laws, should bring the country into line with global standards.

Updates will follow as soon as further information becomes available.

contact us for more information.