Zambia: Industrial Designs Act, 2016

June 7, 2016

Zambia: The Industrial Designs Act, 2016 received Presidential assent on June 6, 2016, and was enacted by the Parliament on June 7, 2016. The Act, which repeals the Registered Designs Act, 1958, enhances protection for designs in order to encourage the creation of designs and development of creative industries.

It provides for inter alia: (i) more detailed information on the requirements and procedures of design registration and cancellation of registration of registered design; (ii) the international registration of designs under the Harare Protocol adopted by ARIPO; (iii) the rights of proprietors of registered designs and limitations; (iv) the examination, publication and opposition of registered designs; (v) ownership rights over designs created by employees; (vi) the contractual and compulsory licencing of designs; and (vii) the use and acquisition of registered designs by the Government.