Trademarks in Egypt

Competent Authority

• Name of Office: Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA), formerly operating under the Trade Registration Department / Internal Trade Development Directorate (ITDD).
• Working Language: Arabic.
• System Type: National.

International Treaties

• Paris Convention: Member.
• Madrid System: Member of both the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol. International registrations via the Madrid System can designate Egypt.

Who May Apply

• Eligibility: Natural and legal persons.
• Local Representation: Foreign applicants not domiciled in Egypt must be represented by a licensed local trademark agent or representative.
• Power of Attorney (POA): Required; must be signed by the applicant and duly legalized up to the Egyptian Consulate abroad. A certified Arabic translation is also required.

Online Filing and Search

• Electronic Filing: Available via national electronic filing portals managed by the authority.
• Trademark Search: Available through official registry records or professional preliminary clearance searches handled via local agents.

Protectable Trademark Types

• Word marks, figurative marks, combined marks, and sound/three-dimensional representations under specific statutory interpretations.
• Applications must include Arabic text translations/transliterations where foreign characters are used.

Classification

• System: Nice Classification (current edition).
• Multi-class Applications: Historically, Egypt operated strictly on a single-class application framework per filing form, requiring separate applications for each class.

Examination

• Scope: EIPA conducts formal examinations and substantive examinations covering absolute grounds (distinctiveness, public order, morality) and relative grounds (prior conflicting rights on the register).

Publication and Opposition

• Opposition System: Once approved by examiners, the application is published in the Official Gazette. Interested third parties may file an opposition within 60 days from the publication date.

Timeframes

• Registration Timeline: Approximately 12 to 18 months for a straightforward, unopposed application process from initial filing to certificate issuance.

Official Fees

• Fee Structure: Official government fees are denominated in Egyptian Pounds (EGP). Approximate baseline statutory fees span from filing stage components (~3,500 to 5,500 EGP per class), publication fees (~800 to 1,200 EGP), up to certificate issuance fees (~1,000 to 2,000 EGP) (Source: EIPA Official Fee Regulations / Practice Guides).

Duration and Renewal

• Protection Term: 10 years calculated from the filing date.
• Renewal Window: Can be renewed within the final 6 months prior to expiration, backed by a 6-month grace period subject to a 25% late surcharge penalty.

Use Requirements

• Non-Use Cancellation: A registered trademark is vulnerable to cancellation actions by interested parties if it has not been put to genuine commercial use for a continuous period of 5 years (unless justified).
• System Type: First-to-file.

Post-Registration Procedures

• Assignments, licensing agreements, and changes in the name or address of the holder must be formally recorded with EIPA to ensure legal effectiveness and enforceability against third parties. Recordals require legalized documentation.

Legal Remedies & Enforcement

• Enforcement: Handled via civil and criminal courts for counterfeiting and infringement, supported by administrative measures and border/customs recordal enforcement options.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or consultation. To receive personalized and in-depth guidance tailored to your specific situation, we invite you to schedule a consultation.