News Archive (14)Oct 10, 2023 (Newsletter Issue 10/23)
New Authority for Intellectual Property Established
Egypt recently adopted Law 163 of 2023 which establishes the Egyptian Authority for Intellectual Property (EAIP) as the only state body authorized to grant and register all types of intellectual property rights.
Authority over IP matters, so far divided among multiple administrative bodies, will be integrated and centralized under EAIP, which will also assist judicial, administrative and police authorities in IPR matters. It is expected that EAIP will become operational within one year.
Source: www.cwblegal.com
Sep 09, 2021 (Newsletter Issue 14/21)
IP Office No Longer Charges VAT for TM Services
On July 11, 2021, the Egyptian Trademark Office has announced that it is no longer going to charge a 14% value-added tax (VAT) on trademark related services. The decision entered into force on July 7, 2021.
Source: www.agip.com
Apr 02, 2020 (Newsletter Issue 5/20)
Registration of Geographical Indications Possible Now
The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade of Egypt announced that it has started the registration of geographical indications for the first time in the country.
This decision comes to maximize the value of Egyptian products, whether agricultural or handicraft, and increase opportunities for exporting them abroad while ensuring the protection of their geographical origin.
Source: www.agip.com
Aug 07, 2019 (Newsletter Issue 10/19)VAT to Be Applied to Official FeesThe Egyptian Trademark and Industrial Designs Office has informed by official circular that all official fees will be subject to VAT (value added tax) of 14%. A copy of the circular is available here and has been put effect from July 4, 2019.
Source: JAH & Co. IP, Qatar Nov 07, 2017 (Newsletter Issue 19/17)Official Fees IncreasedThe Egyptian Trademarks Office has announced an increase in the official fees for trademarks. The increase became effective starting October 15, 2017. The increase covers new applications as well as retroactively those applications, which relevant publication and registration fees have not been paid yet.
The new official fee for filing a trademark application is EGP 100.00 per class.
Source: JAH & Co. IP, Qatar Sep 28, 2016 (Newsletter Issue 17/16)
New Value Added Tax Adopted
The Egyptian parliament approved on August 28, 2016, the long-delayed value added tax (VAT) which replaces the former General Sales Tax (GST) system.
On September 5, 2016, VAT Law No. 67 of 2016 was issued. It replaces the Sales Tax Law No. 11 of 1991 and it’s amendments. The effective date of the VAT is September 8, 2016, the date after the law was published in the official gazette. The new tax law is part of an economic reform programme package aimed at reducing the country's budget deficit.
In principle, VAT applies to all provisions of goods and services, other than some goods and services that are listed in an exemption table.
The VAT tax rates are as follows:
- A 13% standard rate applies to most supplies of goods or services. This rate will increase to 14% on July 1, 2017.
-A schedule to the VAT Act lists goods and services that are subject to special rates in addition to the standard rate.
-A schedule to the VAT Act also lists goods and services that are subject only to special rates.
Source: BDO Egypt (www.bdo.com.eg) and PricewaterhouseCoopers Middle East (www.pwc.com)
Feb 17, 2016 (Newsletter Issue 3/16)
Verification System for Trademarks
The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade in Egypt launched a new system to enforce the protection of trademarks and limit the infringement acts that are increasing rapidly in Egypt.
By using an Android application or sending an SMS, the consumer will be able to verify instantly if a certain product is original or not. The verification message will include the product's name and the expiry date as well.
Through the new system, trademark owners will have the right to have a “sticker” put on all the products that are sold in the Egyptian market and registered at the Egyptian Trademarks Office.
At present, companies can voluntary register as part of this new verification system which may soon become mandatory.
Source: www.agip.com
Sep 15, 2015 (Newsletter Issue 14/15)
New System for Trademarks Protection Launched
The Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade of Egypt announced the launch of a new system for activating protection of trademark in Egypt.
This new system is one of different initiatives adopted by the Ministry to enhance the confidence in the national economy, and protect the consumers, investors and producers rights.
The new system aims to protect the Egyptian consumers against counterfeit, imitated and expired products. On the other hand, it will protect the investors from having their trademarks counterfeit or plagiarized.
It is worth mentioning that the new system will be implemented starting from September 2015, through a special electronic system allowing the consumer to obtain information about the expiry date of products they buy, and whether such products are original or not.
In this regard, a stringent punishment shall be applied in case of selling counterfeit products; up to a one-year imprisonment or a fine of L.E 50.000.
Source: www.agip.com
Apr 16, 2014 (Newsletter Issue 7/14)
Official Fees Increased
The Egyptian government has recently revised its official fees schedule in connection with the registration of trademarks and designs. By virtue of Ministerial Decision no. 95 of 2014, issued on 19 March 2014, the official fees for a few trademark and design related matters have increased substantially in comparison with their current level.
More specifically, the increase is with regards to the following:
(1) oppositions
(2) availability search and status search
(3) obtaining certified copies.
The new rates are applicable as of 1 April 2014.
Source: SABA & Co.
Sep 03, 2013 (Newsletter Issue 12/13)Electronic Official Gazette IntroducedThe Egyptian Trademark Office has introduced an electronic Official Gazette which is available in PDF format and is published on the 7th day of each month.
This electronic version contains the particulars of each accepted trademark application, a list of cancelled and renewed registrations. It also contains the particulars of the approved Recordals of License Agreements and Transfers of Ownership, as well as the particulars of international registrations designating Egypt. The applicant should carefully review the information that appears in the TMOG for accuracy. Any interested party may file an opposition against a published trademark within 60 days from publication date.
Source: JAH & Co. IP, Qatar Jul 16, 2013 (Newsletter Issue 11/13)
Advertisement of Accepted Trademarks Changed
The Egyptian Trademark Office (EGTMO) has started to publish the accepted trademarks online as of the end of May 2013, and the hard copies of Official Gazettes are no longer issued. While the first trail copy appeared at the end of April 2013 along with hard copy.
It is worth mentioning that the data displayed in the EGTMO website will include the published trademarks only.
Source: www.njq-ip.com
Mar 10, 2011 (Newsletter Issue 4/11)New Decisions of the Patent OfficeThe Egyptian Patent Office has recently issued two Ministerial decisions which are expected to be implemented shortly which stipulate that:
- It will not be possible to extend the 30-month time limit for entering the national phase under PCT Chapters I and II for an additional 3-month period upon payment of a substantial surcharge for late entry on the filing of a written request for such purpose as per the Ministerial Decree no. 23.
- The official fees for the examination will be increased from EGP 2,000 (approx. USD 338) to EGP 7,000 EGP (approx. USD 1,185) as per the stipulation of Ministerial Decree no. 22.
Source: JAH & CO. IP, Doha, Qatar Feb 23, 2011 (Newsletter Issue 3/11)
Trademark Office Operating Again
The Egyptian Intellectual Property Office has returned to its normal working routine as of February 15th, 2011 after a period of unrest in Egypt.
The Office has resumed their work and are again able to deliver their services without any delay.
Source: SABA & Co.
Mar 02, 2010 (Newsletter Issue 8/10)Arabic Domain Passes ICANN EvaluationOn January 21, 2010, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced that Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Russia are the first four countries to meet a specific set of linguistic and technical requirements required under the ICANN’s IDN (Internationalized Domain Name) ccTLD Fast Track String Evaluation.
For more information please click here Legal basis is the Intellectual Property Rights Law No. 82 of July 2nd, 2002, in force since June 2003, which replaces the Trademark Law of 1939.
Egypt is a member of the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks (Act of Stockholm of 1967) and a member of the Madrid Protocol.
Trademark protection is obtained by registration.
ClassificationNice classification, 11th edition. There are no restrictions regarding the coverage of a trademark to certain goods (as for example beers, alcoholic beverages, pork meat, etc.).
What is Registrable as a TrademarkRegistrable as a trademark is any sign capable of distinguishing the product or services of one undertaking from those of others, including distinctive names, signatures, words, letters, numerals, drawings, symbols, signboards of shops, fiscal and official stamps, pictures, protruded engravings, and combination of colours in a specific and distinctive form as well as any combination of such elements if being employed or needed to be employed for distinguishing products of an industrial process, agricultural or forestay exploitation, earth extracts, or any commodity, for indicating the origin, kind, category, guarantee or method of preparation of products or commodities or for indicating the performance of one of the services. In all cases, the trademark shall be visually perceptible.
The following trademark types are registrable: trademarks, service marks, collective marks and certification marks.
Registration ProceedingsThe application is filed at the Trademark Office.
A separate application is to be filed for each class of goods/services.
Multi-class application is applicable in Egypt, but such an application is not recommended due to the fact that delay of the registration in one class will delay registration in other classes, which is why this type of filing is rarely adopted, so we recommend filing a single application for each class.
Foreign applicants need a local agent.
A power of attorney authenticated by an Egyptian consulate is necessary.
Foreign applicants need a domestic registration.
Anyone may apply for trademarks.
The application process includes a formal examination, an examination of distinctiveness and a search for prior trademarks. Signs not deemed distinctive in the examination can be registered if distinctiveness has been acquired by use.
The processing time from first filing to registration is approx. 15 to 20 months.
After aproval the trademark is published in the “Official Gazette”.
Opposition PeriodNational:The opposition period is 60 days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.
Details regarding the
Opposition Period against designation of IR Mark are available in our publication on this topic
here
Trademark DurationA trademark registration is valid for 10 years from date of application. It is renewable for an identical period or periods upon request of its owner.
Grace Period for Trademark RenewalPractical details on grace periods for trademark renewals are available in our publication
herePractical details on trademark use requirements are available in our publication
hereThe official fee for filing a trademark application is EGP 100.00 per class. The publication fee for one class is EGP 180.00 and the registration of a mark is EGP 150.00.
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Practical details on trademark licensing are available in our publication
here
Online you can see a limited part of information about this country.
More in-depth details are available for the following aspects:
General Trademark Regulations
Trademark Use Requirements
Grace Period for Trademark Renewal
Trademark Licensing
If you like to purchase all available information for this country, click the order button.
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Apr 29, 2024
JAH Intellectual Property, Doha, Qatar
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