News: Registration of trademark in Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic: trademark registration

Favorable investment climate and democratic system of registration of trademarks in the Dominican Republic strengthen the economy of the country by attracting foreign capital to the sphere of tourism, telecommunications, real estate and miscellaneous ones.

The country's market is the most hospitable for companies which are reliable for consumers and indicated their products by original and memorable trademark. Their functioning and protection are regulated by the Industrial Property Law.

Procedure of registering a brand name in Dominican Republic  

Registration of trademark starts with the filing of application in the Dominican Republic, as well as in any other country. In this regard, it is necessary to apply for the National Office of Industrial Property (ONAPI). Overcoming the language barrier and legislative difficulties of the country is possible with the help of local lawyers.

However, before submitting application it is needed to collect the necessary information, which will allow to improve the trademark or change the list of goods and services you are interested in. The foregoing will also save you from conflict situations with the owners of existing marks or trademarks applied for. And although in practice, such situations almost never happen, some caution would not be out of place.

In order to register trademark in the Dominican Republic, you will have to spend certain amount of time, money and some efforts. Contact Law&Trust International for reducing the foregoing.

The application for trademark should contain detailed information about the applicant, description and image of the trademark, as well as the list of goods or services for which the trademark will be used. The application is considered and examined by ONAPI employees within certain period of time.

Their main task is to verify the compliance of the application with the requirements and the protection of the sign, as well as to identify the reasons for refusal. One of the reasons for refusing to register may be the inclusion in the designation of flags, symbols and emblems of particular states, caricatures of other people.

If the application is recognized as meeting all the necessary requirements, ONAPI makes decision concerning registration of the trademark. The applicant pays the registration fee and obtains the Certificate of registration of the trademark.

The trademark in the Dominican Republic is valid for 10 years from the date of submission of the application for its registration. This period can be renewed for the subsequent 10 years.

Law&Trust can provide you with service regarding the entire range of activities related to trademark registration in the Dominican Republic, up to the issuance of the Certificate of Registration.