Patent Protection

Any invention of a product or manufacturing process can be protected by a patent. The patent is an industrial title deed which gives its owner an exclusive temporary right to use the invention of which it is the subject. The patent is issued for new inventions, implying an inventive activity and liable to industrial application.

Overview of the national patents system

The duration of protection of a patent is 20 years from the date of registration of the application. The holders of patents must pay regularly, on pain of forfeiture, the yearly payments to keep their patents in force on the anniversary date of the registration of their application.

Formalities of a patent application

Who has the capacity to register a patent?

The deposit of a patent application can be carried out by any legal entity or natural person independently of its nationality and the place of its residence. The applicants who have their residence in Tunisia must directly register their requests to the INNORPI or be represented by an agent.
The non-residents in Tunisia must be represented by an agent who has its residence in Tunisia and who is provided with a capacity signed by the applicant.

Where and how to register a patent ?

The requests are registered in the industrial property department of INNORPI to the following address :

INNORPI
Siège Rue 8451 n°8 par la rue Alain Savary
BP 57
Cité El Khadra
1003 Tunis
Tel : +216 71 806 758
Fax : +216 71 807 071
E-mail : inorpi@email.ati.tn

Documents required

1 - A request which states the title of the invention, the name and first name of the depositor and its address, the name and first name of the inventor and, if necessary, the name, first name and address of the agent.

2 - A description of the invention in double specimen, which must be sufficiently clear and complete so that a person of the trade in the corresponding field of technology can carry out it.

3 - One or more claims in double specimen specifying the elements of innovation of the invention which must be based on description and indicate the extent of the protection which is required by the patent.

4- One or more designs in double specimen if they are necessary to the description.

5 - An abstract of the invention which briefly states the principal technical elements of the invention.

6 - A capacity of an agent if it is necessary (without legalization)

7 - Payment of the charges described as regards deposit.

8 - The indication that the depositor claims the priority right attached to a preceding deposit abroad, if it is necessary.

Useful addresses

National Institute of Standardization and Industry Property (INNORPI)
Siège Rue 8451 n°8 par la rue Alain Savary, BP 57 - Cité El Khadra - 1003 Tunis - Tel : +216 71 806 758 - Fax : +216 71 807 071

World Organisation of Intellectual Property (OMPI / WOIP)
34 chemin des Colombettes - 1211 Genève 20 - Switzerland - Tel : 00 4122 73 09 111 - Fax : 00 412273 35 428


Update june 2007