- African
2. The current legal basis for trademarks in Ethiopia is the "Trademark Registration and Protection Announcement of July 2006", which has been in effect since January 2013. Trademark applications accept multiple categories for one trademark, and the classification of goods adopts the Nice Classification 10th edition. Trademark affairs are managed by the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO).
3. In Ethiopia, trademark applications follow the principle of prior application, but registration can also be obtained through sufficient public recognition.
4. Although Ethiopia is not a member of the Paris Convention, according to Ethiopian intellectual property law, if Ethiopia's application is submitted within six months from the date of filing the priority application, priority can also be claimed under the Paris Convention by submitting a certification document confirming the details of the priority application within three months after the filing date in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is a party to intellectual property treaties such as the WIPO Convention and the Nairobi Treaty, and has not yet joined the Madrid Agreement or the Madrid Protocol. Therefore, trademark registration in Ethiopia can only be processed through the "single country registration" method.
The registration is valid for 7 years from the date of filing the registration application, and can be renewed for another 7 years at a time;
Trademark renewal registration should be processed within three months after expiration; If the three-month period expires, the trademark owner can renew the registration within the next six months, but needs to pay a late fee.
If the trademark applicant does not reside in Ethiopia, they need to entrust a specialized agent in their home country to handle the application, and the following materials need to be provided when applying:
1. Applicant's name and address
2. Specific goods or services and categories
3. Trademark name and design
4. Notarized and authenticated power of attorney
5. Business license or foreign trademark registration certificate or company registration certificate
Application Review Announcement Registration.
Trademark applicant submits application to Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO)
After the applicant submits the application, the examiner will review the form and content of the application. If the review is not approved, EIPO will issue a rejection notice requiring the applicant to respond within the prescribed time limit. If the applicant fails to respond or the response is not approved, the application will be deemed abandoned.
If the examination is approved, the trademark will be published in the official gazette for 60 days, and any third party may raise objections to the trademark at this stage.
If the request for trademark registration has met its substantive and formal conditions, and there are no objections or objections are rejected, the competent authority will register the trademark and issue a trademark registration certificate to the applicant after paying the necessary fees.
