Explore IP Landscape:
South Africa
South Africa has been a member of WIPO since 1975 and is a signatory to over 9 WIPO treaties.
The national IP office of South Africa is the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). The office is located in Pretoria.
Contact information
Intellectual property landscape: South Africa
WIPO memberships
- Membership of WIPO treaties and WIPO bodies
- Treaty notifications
- National statements at WIPO assemblies
IP legal information
- WIPO lex database for IP laws, regulations, judgements and treaties
- IP policies, manuals and model agreements from universities and research institutions
IP statistics
- Statistical IP profile including data on patent, utility models, trademark and industrial design applications
Use of WIPO global IP services & products: South Africa
Patents
PATENTSCOPE
- The PATENTSCOPE database provides access to published international PCT applications in full-text on the day of publication, patent documents from participating national and regional offices, and non-patent literature.
- Office of origin - Search patent applications filed through the PCT System in: South Africa
- Designated office - Search patent applications filed through the PCT System seeking protection in: South Africa
PCT System – the international patent system
- The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) allows inventors to apply for patent protection in over 150 countries through a single procedure.
- PCT eGuide: Detailed information on requirements relating to PCT applications
- ePCT office profile: Details on IP office procedures in the context of the PCT electronic filings system (ePCT)
WIPO news and events: South Africa
News
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Women Innovators Take the Lead: Pitch & Protect STEM Conference Empowers the Next Generation
March 26, 2026 -
Young Game Developers Create Winning Games Powered by IP
February 4, 2026 -
Cross-Regional Forum on IP and Women in Entrepreneurship
January 31, 2025 -
Creating Value from IP in South Africa
September 2, 2024
