Liberia

Trade Mark Services & Trade Mark Lawyers

Forms part of

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

10th edition

Yes
WELL-KNOWN TRADE MARKS RECOGNISED?

OAPI

ARIPO

International Arrangements

Liberia is a party to the Madrid System for international registration of trade marks, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) and the Paris Convention for Protection of Industrial Property. It is possible to claim priority under the Paris Convention.

Although Liberia is a signatory to the Madrid System it has not amended its national legislation to give effect to the provisions of the Madrid system and it is therefore questionable whether international registrations designating Liberia are enforceable in Liberia.

Classification

Liberia 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 1 month. Trade mark applications are examined for compliance with formal requirements only and are published in the official gazette after acceptance. Trade marks may be opposed within 2 months from the date of publication.

Common Law and Well-Known Trade Marks

Well-known trade marks in terms of the Paris Convention are recognised in Liberia.

Duration of Registration, Renewal and Non-Use

Trade mark registrations are valid for 15 years from the date of filing and may be renewed indefinitely for 15-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 3 years after the date of registration.

Customs Recordal

Customs recordals are possible.

Patent

Forms part of

Yes
ARIPO
No
OAPI
Yes
PARIS CONVENTION
Yes
PCT

OAPI

ARIPO

International Arrangements

Paris Convention
Convention establishing World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Lusaka Agreement
The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents

Types of Patents

Patens of Invention
ARIPO Designations

Novelty Requirements

Absolute novelty

Grace Period/Prior knowledge

12-month grace period for disclosures by the applicant or for unauthorised disclosures by a third party.

Examination procedure

Formal examination, search (for foreign patent entries) and substantive examination, but in practice only formal examination is conducted.

Duration & Maintenance

20 years for filing date
Annual maintenance payments

Working Requirement

The invention must be worked in Liberia within four years from the filing date, or three years from the grant of the patent whichever is later, in default hereof a non-voluntary license may be issued.

Design

Forms part of

Yes
ARIPO
No
OAPI
Yes
PARIS CONVENTION

OAPI

ARIPO

International Arrangements

Paris Convention
Convention establishing World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Lusaka Agreement
The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents

Types of Designs

Industrial Designs (no utility models)

Classification

Classification is according to the Locarno Agreement Establishing an International Classification for Industrial Designs even though Liberia has not yet acceded to that treaty.

Novelty Requirements

Absolute novelty

Grace Period/Prior knowledge

12-month grace period

Examination procedure

Only formal examination

Duration & Maintenance

Five years from filing date, renewable for two additional five-year terms, for maximum duration of fifteen years.
Maintenance payment every 5 years.

Working requirement

No use requirement