Egypt's current trademark protection is based on the Intellectual Property Protection Law promulgated on June 3, 2002, and it joined the Madrid Agreement in September 2009. The principles of commodity classification are the same as those of the international classification, with a total of 34 categories. The service classification adopts the domestic classification. There are 12 categories from 101 to 112. In addition to ordinary trademarks, collective trademarks and certification marks can also be registered. In Egypt, you can apply for a trademark in multiple categories. However, due to the strict trademark examination in Egypt, it is recommended to submit a single-category application to avoid delays in trademark examination in other categories due to the rejection of one category of trademarks.
1. Trademark authority
- The Egyptian Trademarks and Industrial Designs Office (Trademarks and Industrial Designs Office) is affiliated to the Internal Trade Development Authority (ITDA) of the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry and is responsible for accepting the registration and maintenance of trademarks and designs.
- Website: جهاز تنمية التجارة الداخلية (itda.gov.eg)
- Trademark search: itda.gov.eg/login/login.aspx
2. How to apply for trademark registration
- electronic submission
3. Trademark registration application language
- Arabic
4. Documents required for trademark registration application
- Trademark registration application form;
- Applicant’s name and address;
- List of goods and/or services;
- Trademark pattern;
- Payment documents or receipts.
- If priority is claimed, a certified copy of the priority document must be submitted within 3 months from the filing date.
- A power of attorney in Arabic certified by the Egyptian Consulate must be submitted, which can be submitted within 6 months from the date of filing the trademark registration application.
- If the applicant is a legal entity, an excerpt of the page recording the entity’s commercial registration, or a certified copy of the company registration certificate certified by the Egyptian Consulate, should be provided at the time of submission or within 6 months thereafter.
5. Egyptian trademark registration application process
- Egyptian trademark applications are subject to formal and substantive examination.
- Formal review: After the application is submitted, the legality of the submitted application documents, trademark drawings, power of attorney and other documents will be reviewed; if the application is in compliance with the regulations, the application date and application number will be awarded.
- Substantive examination: Examine whether the trademark is registrable according to the law, whether it is identical or similar to a previously registered trademark, and whether it violates the prohibition provisions of the trademark law. For a trademark that fails substantive examination, the examining officer will notify the applicant in writing and inform the applicant of the reasons for rejection. The applicant may submit a reexamination within the time limit from the date of receipt of the rejection notice. Otherwise, the application will be deemed abandoned, and the application date and application number will not be retained. Applicants can apply for an extension after paying the extension fee.
- Announcement: After the trademark passes review, the applicant will be notified that the trademark application has been accepted and published in the Trademark Announcement. Anyone can raise an objection within the 60-day announcement period, state the reasons and submit relevant evidence.
- Registration approval: Trademarks that are found to be registrable after opposition, or trademarks that are announced as having no objections will be approved for registration and a registration certificate will be issued.
6. Documents required for trademark change/transfer
- Proof of name and address changes must be notarized and certified
- Transfer agreement requires notarization and certification
7. Trademark cancellation
- If a trademark has not been used for five consecutive years, any interested party may request cancellation of the unused trademark.
8. Trademark objections
- Anyone can object to the announced trademark within 60 days from the date of trademark announcement.
9. Authorization, validity period and trademark renewal
- The protection period of a registered trademark is 10 years from the date of application. After the expiration, you can apply for renewal, with each extension being 10 years. If a trademark is not renewed within 3 months after expiration, the Trademark Office will revoke it.
10. Average time for trademark authorization
- If the registration process goes smoothly, the Egyptian trademark registration process will take approximately 18-24 months.
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