- African
2. The current trademark laws and regulations of Botswana are mainly based on the Industrial Property Law that came into effect on August 31, 2012.
3. The Trademark Office is responsible for managing trademark affairs, and the official language is English.
4. The trademark registration in Botswana adopts the principle of "application first".
5. At present, Botswana adopts the goods and services description of the 11th edition of the Nice Classification and accepts one form of multi category applications. The elements that can be registered as trademarks in Botswana include words, graphics, colors, letters, numbers, etc.
Botswana is a party to the Paris Convention, the WIPO Convention and other international intellectual property treaties; As a member state of the Madrid Protocol, trademark registration can be processed through either "single country registration" or "Madrid international registration".
The trademark of Botswana is valid for 10 years after registration, and the period of validity starts from the application date; Renewal can be processed within 6 months before the expiration date, with a grace period of 6 months; The renewal is valid for 10 years.
1. Trademark design: When applying for trademark registration, a trademark design must be submitted, which should be clear and easy to identify.
2. Application Form: A complete trademark registration application form, including applicant information, trademark information, etc.
3. Power of attorney: if the applicant is not a resident of Botswana, it is necessary to submit a notarized power of attorney, which shall be signed and stamped by the applicant.
4. Evidence of use: If the trademark has already been used, evidence of use, such as product packaging, advertising materials, etc., needs to be provided.
5. Priority Declaration: If the trademark has already been applied for in other countries, a priority declaration needs to be submitted.
Before applying for trademark registration, it is recommended to check whether the trademark has been registered or applied for registration on the website of Botswana Intellectual Property Office. This can avoid blind application and save time and money.
Prepare the necessary documents for trademark registration, including trademark design, application form, power of attorney, etc. Among them, the trademark design should be clear and concise, the application form should be accurately filled out, and the power of attorney should be signed by the applicant and stamped with the official seal.
Submit the prepared application documents to the Botswana Intellectual Property Office and pay the corresponding application fees.
The Botswana Intellectual Property Office will examine the application, including formal examination and substantive examination. Formal review mainly examines whether the application documents are complete and meet the requirements; The substantive examination mainly examines whether the trademark has registrability and whether it conflicts with existing trademarks.
If the application passes the examination, Botswana Intellectual Property Office will publish the trademark on the official website and accept the public's objection. If someone raises an objection, the applicant needs to defend themselves against it.
If the trademark is successfully registered, the Botswana Intellectual Property Office will issue a registration certificate, and the applicant can obtain the certificate and use the Botswana trademark.
