Major developments in intellectual property law in Botswana

Abstract

This paper seeks to provide for an overview of major developments inintellectual property law in Botswana over the past fi fty years, with specificreference to patent law. It traces major developments in patent law at bothinternational and national level. It is observed that to a large extent, Botswanahas successfully implemented its obligations under international conventions onintellectual property. Botswana has also implemented WTO TRIPS flexibilitiesin its national legislation. Although it took a long time to update patent laws inBotswana, the past fi fty years have seen a gradual and incremental reform inintellectual property law in Botswana.