Egypt Trademarks

Filing Requirements:

1. Power of attorney, legalized. A general power may be used for subsequent filings.

2. Certificate of incorporation, legalized.

3. Copy of priority document, if priority is claimed, certified.

4. 10 prints of the mark for each application.

* Documents 1 and 2 may be submitted within 6 months from filing date.

* Document 3 may be submitted within 6 months from filing date.

* Item 4 must be submitted at the time of filing.

Classification:

The International Classification of Goods and Services (8th Edition) is followed. A separate application is required for each class.

Opposition:

Trademark applications accepted by the Registrar are published in the Trademark Gazette. Oppositions may be filed within 90 days from publication date.

Extension Of Time:

Extension of time for oppositions/counter-oppositions or for responding to office actions is not possible.

Protection Term:

Trademark registrations are valid for 10 years from filing date and are renewable for like periods. There is a grace period of 6 months for late renewals with payment of a surcharge.

Documents Required For Renewal:

  • Power of attorney, legalized.

Use Requirements:

Use of a trademark is not required for registration or renewal of a mark. However, a trademark is vulnerable to cancellation by any interested party if there has been no effective use of the mark for a period of 5 consecutive years.

Search:

An official search may be conducted for word marks and devices. It takes approximately 5 to 8 working days for the results to be available. A separate application is required for search in each class. The search report discloses similar and identical trademarks.

Assignment:

* Trademark applications and registrations may be assigned with or without the goodwill of the business concerned.

* Documents required:

  • Power of attorney from the assignee, legalized.
  • Power of attorney from the assignor, legalized.
  • Deed of Assignment, legalized.
  • Certificate of Incorporation of the assignee, legalized.

Change Of Name/Address:

* A change of name/address may be recorded for trademark applications and registrations.

* Documents required:

  • Power of attorney, legalized.
  • Certificate of change of name/address of the applicant, legalized.

Licensing:

* License recordal is not compulsory but advisable in order to be effective against third parties.

* Documents required:

  • Power of attorney from licensor, legalized.
  • License agreement, legalized.
  • Certificate of incorporation of the licensee, legalized.

Merger:

* A merger may be recorded for trademark applications and registrations.

* Documents required:

  • Power of attorney, legalized.
  • Certificate of merger, legalized.
  • Certificate of incorporation, legalized.

Marking:

Marking is not compulsory.

Cancellation:

A trademark is subject to cancellation before the Court by any interested party within 5 years from registration date unless the mark was registered in bad faith, in which case, there is no time limit.

Registration Time Frame:

The time frame for completing the registration process is 3 years.

Three Dimensional Trademark Applications:

Unacceptable.