TUNISIA

• Filing Requirements:

1. Name and address of the applicant.

2. A Power of attorney simply signed by the applicant.

3. List of goods/services (classes) to be covered by the mark in French language.

4. Five prints of the mark (if it is a design or has a special script).

5. A Certified copy of the priority document if it is claimed.( can be submitted within 3 months)

N.B:

Applications can be filed without complete documents, provided that the originals are submitted within 30 days from the filing date.

Search results need 2-4 working days to be issued.

Official Trademark Office search covers word marks only.

• Time Frame:

The approximate time frame for completing the registration process of a trademark in Tunisia is 10 to 12 months.

• Validity:

A trademark registration is valid for ten years from the filing date.

 • Notes:

Services marks may be registered according to the 10Th edition of the Nice Classification.

Please note that according to the Tunisian Trademark Law, transliteration of the trademark in English is not automatically protected.

• Requirements:

1. A Power of attorney simply signed by the applicant.

2. Copy of the final registration certificate or last renewal certificate.

• Notes:

The validity of the trademark registration in Tunisia is ten years as from the filing date. Thereafter, a trademark registration is renewable for further consecutive periods of ten years each.  

The renewal fees of a trademark registration can be paid during the last 6 months of the current protection period. There is a 2-month grace period within which a late renewal application can be filed, but such a late renewal application is subject to the payment of additional fees.

• Requirements for Recordal of Change of name/legal status:

1. A Power of Attorney simply signed.

2. A certificate of the change of name or an extract from the commercial register Duly Notarized & Legalized with French translation.

• Requirements for Recordal of Change of address:

1. A Power of Attorney with the new address simply signed.

• Requirements for Recordal of assignment:

1. A Power of Attorney from the assignee, simply signed.

2. A Deed of assignment Duly Notarized & Legalized, with simple French translation.

• Requirements for Recordal of merger:

1. A Power of Attorney from the assignee, simply signed

2. A Certificate of merger Duly Notarized & Legalized with French translation.

• Requirements for Recordal of license:

1. A Power of Attorney from the licensor, simply signed.

2. A Power of Attorney from the licensee, simply signed

3. A license agreement Duly Notarized & Legalized.

• Notes:

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

A merger may be recorded for trademark applications and registrations.

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