PCT NATIONAL PHASE ENTRY
Lesotho

Lesotho became a Contracting Party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property on September 28, 1989, and joined the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on October 21, 1995. Additionally, Lesotho is a member of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).

The deadline to file a national phase application in Lesotho under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is 31 months from the earliest priority date.

Patent application documents in Lesotho are required to be submitted in English.

In Lesotho, extensions for the late filing of patent applications are not generally permitted under the applicable regulations.

Power of Attorney: A notarized power of attorney must be submitted when the application is filed by an agent or authorized representative.

Deed of Assignment: Where the applicant is not the inventor, an executed deed of assignment concerning the inventor and the applicant’s right to apply for a patent must be furnished.

In Lesotho, there is no cost exemptions are available for filing the patent application.

In Lesotho, when entering the national phase of a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application, there is no need to submit a Request for Examination (RFE). The Patent Office will automatically carry out the examination of the application without requiring a formal request or extra fees.

In Lesotho, to keep a patent valid, annual renewal fees must be paid, beginning from the first anniversary of the filing date. Late payment of renewal fees is allowed within a grace period of 6 months after the due date.

In Lesotho, the initial term of a patent is 15 years from the filing date. This term may be extended for an additional 5 years upon request, provided the invention is being adequately utilized in Lesotho, or if there are valid reasons for its non-utilization. However, the mere importation of the product does not qualify as a legitimate reason for not working the invention.

In the 2024 Global Innovation Index, Lesotho achieved an innovation performance score of 27.0, reflecting the country's overall innovation outcomes, including both inputs and outputs. The index places Lesotho 97th globally in terms of innovation ranking.

Lesotho, officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa entirely surrounded by South Africa. It is known as the "Kingdom in the Sky" due to its high-altitude, mountainous terrain. The country has a population of approximately 2.3 million and its official languages are Sesotho and English.