Procedure for Registration

An application for registration may relate only to one mark. An application may relate to more than one class of the applicable classification (that is: the International Classification of Goods and Services under the Nice Agreement), but an extra class fee is due for each class in the application over the one.

Applications for the registration of a mark are first examined as to compliance with the formal requirements. If the information identifying applicant is insufficient, no representation of the mark as required has been filed, no list of goods or services to be covered been filed, or the application fee not been paid, the application will be refused. If another formal requirement has not been met, the Institute will invite applicant to comply therewith as yet within a prescribed period. If the application is found formally in order, it will be accorded a filing date.

Under the present law as in force from June 27, 1995, the International Classification of Goods and Services under the Nice Agreement is applied, which at present contains 34 classes of goods and 11 classes of services.

After formal examination the application will be examined as to absolute grounds for refusal, and as to similarity to marks already registered or applied for. If during this examination the mark is found not registrable, the application will be refused. It is also possible that the application is refused partially, that is in respect of only one or some of the goods or services concerned. Apart from correction of spelling errors and errors in the name or address of applicant or a limitation of the list of goods or services, no amendments in the application are allowed. If extension of the list of goods or services is desired, a fresh application for registration must be filed. If during examination it is found that the mark may be registered, the application will be published in the (monthly) Official Bulletin of Trade Marks.