Trademark registration in Egypt

The procedure for trademark registration in Egypt is implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Intellectual Property Law No. 82/2002. Registering a trademark is optional to use in Egypt. However, it is better for the trademark owner to have registered his trademark. The foregoing registration will grant the trademark owner the exclusive right to use and license his or her trademark, prevent other similar forms of registration, and take legal action against any infringement trademarks which are mentioned above.

Procedure to trademark registration in Egypt

Stage 1: Application stage

• The application together with the above documents will be filed with the Egyptian Trademark Registry.
• The above dossiers will be appraised by specialized appraisal agencies.
• During the examination, the trademark registration office may require the applicant to make some modifications to his mark. If the requested amendments are not made within six months of notification, the Trademark Office may reject the trademark application.
• The assessment and appraisal phase of the application will take about 12-14 months from the date the application is approved for validity (according to a favorable process).
• At the end of the examination period, the examiner will make a decision to accept or reject the registration of the mark in question.
• If the decision of the Egyptian Trademark Office is to accept it, then the Mark will be moved to the second stage “Disclosure and Registration Stage”.

Stage 2: Publication and registration stage

• The publication fee must be paid to publish the mark in the Trademark Gazette.
• After the publication of the mark in the aforementioned Official Gazette, the third party shall have sixty days to object to the publication of the said mark.
• After 60 days and if there is no objection to the application, the Trademark will be registered and the applicant will receive a Certificate of Trademark Registration.
• Duration trademark protection is 10 years from the date of filing the trademark application. The aforesaid term may be extended at the end of the tenth year. Note: Renewals for trademarks for other periods will also be published in the Trademark Official Gazette.
• If the decision of the Egyptian Trademark Registry is to refuse to grant a protection title to the mark, within thirty days from the date of notification of the refusal, the applicant may submit an appeal against that decision to the Complaints Committee at the Egyptian Registry. If the said Commission accepts the Claim, the trademark will be transferred to the publication and registration process as outlined above.

Stage 3: Procedures for objecting to a trademark registration application “if any”:

• Following the publication of a mark in the Trademark Official Gazette, a third party will have within 60 days to object to such publication.
• The Egyptian Trademark Registry must deal with the applicant and send the applicant a copy of the Notice of Objection within 30 days of the objection.
• The applicant must submit a counter-response within 30 days of receipt of the counter-notification. Otherwise, the application will be invalidated.
• After the applicant files a statement of objection, the Trademark Office has the right to require any interested party to submit some necessary documents to clarify or support the case. This phase will take place approximately 6 months from the date of filing the objection.
• Both parties have the right to appoint a hearing after payment of the state fee.
• If no one appoints a hearing, the Trademark Office will make an abrupt decision and send it to both parties. Or, the Trademark Office will request a hearing from both parties in the final stages of the case, before the registry publishes a final decision.
• If there is a hearing, it usually involves our senior partners, for clarity it usually takes two to three Hearings, before the registry publishes a final decision.
• Both parties have the legal right to appeal the decision in administrative court.

Documents required for trademark registration in Egypt

• Full name, address, nationality of the applicant.
• Trademark sample.
• List of goods/services covered by the application.
• Notarized copies of preferred documents if required (accepted within six months)
• Power of Attorney (POA) is notarized and legalized by the Egyptian consular.
• Note the original POA is required. It is possible to apply without a POA. However, a scanned copy of a legalized POA must be submitted within six months at no additional charge. The original can be submitted at any time before receiving the registration certificate.

General information about trademark procedures in Egypt

• Time from application submission to issuance of registration certificate: 12-18 months.
• Time required to complete a trademark search: 12 working days.
• Term (registration) of protection: 10 years from the date of filing.
• Use: A registered trademark may be revoked by any interested party if it is not used for 5 consecutive years.
• Renewal applications can be made within 12 months prior to expiration.
• Renewal period: 10 years.
• Renewal grace period after expiration: 6 months with penalty, 3 years with penalty fee (very high penalty fee).
• Type of Certificate of Registration: paper certificate.
• If there is no Egyptian Consulate in your country, the legalization can be done by any Arab Consulate.

Request for trademark renewal in Egypt

• Power of attorney notarized and legalized by the Egyptian consulate.
• Scanned copy of Trademark Registration Certificate.

Request for trademark assignment in Egypt

• Power of attorney signed by the transferee is notarized and consular legalized at the Egyptian Consulate.
• Business license/certificate of establishment/business registration of the transferee, notarized and legalized at the Egyptian Consulate.
• The transfer contract is signed by both parties or at least the transferor, notarized and legalized by the Egyptian consulate.
• Copy of Trademark Registration Certificate.

Request to change Egyptian trademark certification

• Power of attorney with full name / permanent address, notarized and legalized by the Egyptian consulate.
• Notarized and legalized certificate of change of name/address at the Egyptian consulate.

Viet An Law provides consulting services on the registration of intellectual property rights, domestic and foreign industrial property rights, including copyright registration services, trademark registration services, registration of industrial design, patent registration in Vietnam and internationally, registering intellectual property under the Madrid System or file separately in countries around the world. Customers wishing to register trademarks in Egypt and other countries around the world, please contact Viet An Law for the fastest support!