As long as the application is pending, it may be withdrawn by the applicant at any time.
Article 97: Right of priority
The application may contain a declaration claiming priority, as provided for in the Paris
Convention or a bilateral, regional, or multilateral convention to which the Republic of
Rwanda is party, of one or more earlier national, regional or international applications, filed
by the applicant or by his legal predecessor in one, or for any, State party to Paris Convention
or World Trade Organization or party to the applicable convention.
The filing in Rwanda of that application before the expiration of the priority period shall not
be invalidated by reason of any acts accomplished in the interval, in particular, another filing,
the publication or exploitation of the invention, and such acts cannot give rise to any third–
party right or any right of personal possession.
The priority period referred to in paragraph one of this article is of six (6) months for any
State party to Paris Convention and/or member of World Trade Organization.
Where the application contains the declaration claiming priority, the empowered authority
may request the applicant to supply him, within the prescribed time limit, with a copy of the
previous application, certified as true by the Industrial Property authority with which it has
been filed, together with the translation of this application where necessary. The empowered
authority shall accept the form and the content of the certification mentioned as determined by
the certifying authority.
The declaration claiming priority shall indicate the date and number of the previous
application as well as the State(s) where it has been filed. The effect of said declaration shall
be that provided for by the Paris Convention or any other applicable convention.
If the empowered authority observes that the requirements provided for in this article and the
related administrative regulations have not been satisfied, said declaration shall be considered
not to have been filed.
SECTION 4: EXAMINATION, REGISTRATION
Article 98: According the filing date
The empowered authority shall accord, as the filing date, the date of receipt of the application.
The application shall contain the following:
1° an express or implicit indication that registration of the industrial design or model has
been requested;
2° information allowing the identity of applicant to be established;
3° a copy of the subject incorporating the industrial design or model, or a required graphic
representation embodying the industrial design.