Is it difficult to register a trademark in Lesotho?

Lesotho, with its majestic natural beauty and unique culture, is not only an attractive tourist destination but also a potential market for businesses to build and develop their brands. With its diverse terrain from towering mountains to lush green valleys, Lesotho is a paradise for those who love adventure travel and nature exploration. Travel brands can tap into activities such as climbing, hiking, camping, and exploring local culture to attract visitors. Lesotho’s fertile soil and temperate climate are well suited for the development of organic agriculture. Agricultural products such as coffee, tea, and nuts can be processed into high-end and private label products. Besides, handicraft products from wool, leather and wood are also unique and valuable items. Basotho wool fabric is famous for its colorful colors and unique patterns. Fashion designers can take advantage of this fabric to create unique collections that are bold with Lesotho’s traditional style. With great potential for solar and hydropower, Lesotho could become a renewable energy hub in the South African region. Businesses in this sector can invest in clean energy production and distribution projects. Although there are still many limitations, Lesotho is also making efforts to develop the field of information technology. Businesses can invest in the development of mobile applications, management software, and other technology solutions that cater to the needs of local people. Viet An Law would like to guide customers through the procedure for trademark registration in Lesotho through the article below.

Registering a trademark in Lesotho is not difficult in the current situation

Lesotho, despite being a small country, has a fairly modern approach to trademark registration. The country does not possess a separate trademark registration system, but instead, it participates in international registration systems, making trademark protection more convenient and efficient. Here are the two main systems that Lesotho is involved in:

ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organization)

• African Regional Intellectual Property Organization: ARIPO is an intergovernmental organization whose goal is to unify and simplify the procedures for registering intellectual property in member states in Africa, including Lesotho.
• Advantages: When registering a trademark through ARIPO, you can protect your trademark in multiple African countries at the same time, saving time and money.
• Process: You only need to submit a single application at ARIPO, and the organization will forward the application to the intellectual property offices of the member states you have chosen.

Madrid System

• International Trademark Registration System: The Madrid System allows you to register trademarks in many countries around the world through a single application.
• Pros: The Madrid system helps to expand the scope of your trademark protection globally, including Lesotho.
• Process: You file your international application at the intellectual property office of the country where you reside or are headquartered, which will then forward the application to WIPO’s International Bureau (IB) for processing.

Trademark registration in Lesotho is not difficult through the ARIPO system

Trademark registration dossier in Lesotho via ARIPO system

A trademark registration dossier in Lesotho via the ARIPO system includes the following documents:

• Application Form: The applicant fills in complete information about the trademark, owner, product/service, etc. in the ARIPO Form TM1 form which can be downloaded from the ARIPO website.
• Trademark image: The applicant needs to provide a clear image of the trademark with a minimum size of 5 cm x 5 cm and JPG, JPEG, PNG or TIFF format (if filing online)
• List of goods/services: The applicant lists all the goods/services for which the applicant wants to protect the trademark. Applicants need to use the Nice Classification Table to classify goods/services.
• Power of attorney (if applicable): If the applicant authorizes someone else to represent the applicant during the registration process, a power of attorney is required.
• Fee payment receipt

How to file a trademark registration application via the ARIPO system

Trademark registration in Lesotho is not difficult through the Madrid system

The Madrid system is a fast and efficient way to protect your trademark in many countries, including Lesotho. Instead of having to file an individual application in each country, you only need to submit a single international application.

Why choose the Madrid system to register a trademark in Lesotho?

• Save time and money: You only need to submit a single application, minimizing the time and cost compared to applying individually in each country.
• Simple Process: The registration procedure is simplified, saving you time and effort.
• Comprehensive protection: You can protect your trademark in many member countries of the Madrid system, including Lesotho.
• Consistency: Your rights are protected uniformly across member states.

Trademark registration dossier under the Madrid System

The Madrid application includes the Madrid application of Vietnamese origin and the Madrid application with the designation of Lesotho.

For Madrid Applications of Vietnamese origin, the applicant must file through the state management agency for industrial property rights, i.e. the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam. According to Article 25 of Decree 65/2023/ND-CP, a Madrid application originating from Vietnam includes the following documents:

• Declaration of request for international registration of a trademark of Vietnamese origin (Form No. 01 in Vietnamese in Appendix II of Decree 65/2023/ND-CP);
• 02 MM2 declarations according to the form of the International Office in English or French;
• 02 trademark samples are exactly the same as the trademark in the registration application filed in Vietnam (basic application) or the trademark registration certificate (basic registration);
• 02 MM18 declarations in English (if the application has a US designation);
• Power of attorney in Vietnamese (According to the form of Viet An Law Firm);
• Receipts of payment of fees for carrying out procedures for international registration of trademarks originating in Vietnam;
• Other relevant documents (if necessary).

If you want to file a trademark registration application in Lesotho, please contact Viet An Law for the most effective support.