Egypt

Trade Mark

Forms part of

No
ARIPO
No
OAPI
No
MADRID
Yes
SERVICE CLASSES
NA
NICE CLASSIFICATION

10th Edition

Yes
WELL-KNOWN TRADE MARKS RECOGNISED?

OAPI

ARIPO

International Arrangements

Egypt is a party to the Paris Convention for Protection of Industrial Property and it is possible to claim priority under the Paris Convention.

Classification

Egypt follows a multi-class filing system and recognises both goods and services classes in terms of the 10th Edition of the Nice Classification.

Registration Procedure

The total time from filing to registration is approximately 24 months. Trade mark applications are examined for compliance with formal and substantive requirements and are published in the official gazette after registration. Trade marks may be opposed within 60 days of the date of publication.

Common Law and Well-Known Trade Marks

Well-known trade marks in terms of the Paris Convention and common law trade mark rights are recognised in Egypt.

Duration of Registration, Renewal and Non-Use

Trade mark registrations are valid for 10 years from the date of filing and may be renewed indefinitely for 10-year periods thereafter.

A registered trade mark may be cancelled on action by an interested party if it has not been used for a continuous period of 5 years after the date of registration.

Customs Recordal

Customs recordals are possible.

Patent

Forms part of

No
ARIPO
No
OAPI
Yes
PARIS CONVENTION
Yes
PCT

OAPI

ARIPO

International Arrangements

  • Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property; 
  • Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO);
  • Agreement concerning the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS); and
  • Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Types of Patents

Patents of invention.

Novelty Requirements

Absolute novelty applies.

Grace Period/Prior knowledge

No grace period is provided for.

 

Examination procedure

Patent applications are examined as to compliance with formal requirements and its novel and inventive merit.  Substantive examination has to be requested within six months of the date of filing.

Duration & Maintenance

Patents are valid for twenty years from the date of filing the patent application.  

Annual renewal fees are payable, from the second anniversary of the filing date, for both pending and granted patents.  There is provided for a one-year grace period within which a late annual renewal fee may be paid.

Working Requirement

A patent must be worked within three years for the date of grant or four years from the date of filing, whichever is the later.

Design

Forms part of

No
ARIPO
No
OAPI
Yes
PARIS CONVENTION

OAPI

ARIPO

International Arrangements

  • Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property; 
  • Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO);
  • Agreement concerning the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS); and
  • Hague Agreement concerning International Registration of Industrial Designs.

Types of Designs

An industrial design is defined as any arrangement of lines or any three-dimensional form that takes a new shape and which is industrially applicable.

Classification

The Locarno International Classification is used.

Novelty Requirements

Absolute novelty applies.

Grace Period/Prior knowledge

There is a twelve-month grace period.

Examination procedure

Design applications are examined as to compliance with formal requirements, novelty and industrial applicability.

Duration & Maintenance

An industrial design endures for an initial period of ten years and may be renewed (on application) for a further five years.

Working requirement

There is no working requirement for industrial designs in the Arab Republic of Egypt.