News: Trademark registration in Egypt

Registering a brand name in Egypt

Registration of trademarks in Egypt is still cost-efficient due to tax concessions and customs benefits in force in the country. Legislation of the country with respect to copyright law is similar to the European one. Names can be registered in accordance with different classes (in Cyrillic alphabet or Roman alphabet).

Duration of the procedure can range from 8 to 18 months. Nowadays, Egypt has signed the Madrid Agreement, so the procedure is fairly transparent there.

• Initially, the application can be submitted in French, Spanish or English, participation of foreign patent attorneys is not required.
• The regulatory center is the International Patent Office.
• International examination is usually rather stricter than national one.
• The license is valid for 10 years, with the possibility of renewal.

The application with the indication of the class according to the ICGS is accompanied by standard package of documents, namely:

• Copy of the identification document: passport - for natural persons, and certificate - for legal entities.
• Document on payment of the international patent fee.
• 15 copies of the image of the trademark, product samples are also desirable, application of the trademark, and also the brand book is preferable.

As a result, you receive international certificate in English, which is recognized in the territory of Egypt. The national patent office, on the basis of its own examination, can declare the refusal to protect specific trademark within one and a half year.

The content of the trademark should take into account the specific character of the strict customs typical for the Arab countries, and it is prohibited to use the generally accepted symbols, images of flags and state emblems.

Cost of registration of trademark in Egypt

The Madrid system rarely provides the opportunity to create trademark at a low cost. Minimum amount that will have to be spent on color trademark with class 1 according to the ICGS equals to approximately 500 USD. This includes the fee and the services of the patent office.

Subsequently, international registration can be extended to other countries, and it will be cheaper than applying for new national registration. The standard cost of adding another country party to the Madrid agreement is 100 Swiss francs.