Non-resident patent applications in the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization

Abstract:
This thesis describes non-resident patent applications in the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). All non-resident patent applicants are listed and divided between three different groups: private enterprises, single authors, universities and public bodies. ARIPO non-resident patent applications are classified according to the IPC symbols reported on the application documents and regrouped in specific technology fields in order to compare them with all other patent applications worldwide. From this  comparison, it emerges that two technology fields are predominant in ARIPO non-resident patent applications: pharmaceuticals and organic fine chemistry. Then, a specific study on market interest highlights that 24 MNEs decide to file non-resident patent applications in conjunction with an actual commercial presence in the ARIPO membership. The affiliates of these companies are
mainly localized in ARIPO low-income countries. This finding signals that ARIPO lowincome Members stimulate a particular market interest even in R&D-based firms.