Trademark registration in ARIPO

It is important to know in advance how the process of trademark registration in ARIPO works in since each country has its own legislation and mistakes can be made during the prosecution causing a waste of money and time.

Before applying for a trademark in ARIPO it is important to know the odds of success. To know if the trademark you want to register is already registered you can use the trademark search engine in ARIPO that provides for free the Trademark Office of that country. However this trademark search engine only detects identical marks.

If you want to be sure that the trademark will be granted you should hire a professional advice, for instance from Volartpons, to conduct a preliminary search report prior to the trademark application in ARIPO. This resport shows, apart from identical marks, similar marks to the one you want to register, in order to avoid the dreaded and costly oppositions.

Once you know that the trademark you want can be registered, you can apply for registration before the Trademark Office. The prosecution of a trademark in ARIPO must be made following the many formal rules established by the legislation. To prevent a suspense we recommend to hire a professional who knows the protocol to be followed in that country.

Generally the trademark registration in this country lasts between 18 and 24 months from the date of application date until the date of grant.

The proceeding of the registration is:

1- Application before the ARIPO office designating the countries to be protected.

2- Formal examination before the ARIPO.

3- Transmission of the application to all the countries designated.

4- Substantive examination before the national countries.

5- Publication of the application for receiving oppositions during 3 months.

6- Grant of the application