Trademarks
T1: How long will it take to conduct a trademark search?
7 working days.
T2: Does your country use the international classification?
Yes.
T3: Are there any goods or services for which the mark cannot be registered?
No.
T4: Does the specification of goods in any class limit the protection to the specified goods, or does it give extended protection to all the goods in the class?
In most cases, it gives extended protection to all the goods in the class.
T5: Can a trademark be registered in the name of more than one applicant ( i.e. joint application) ? If so, what are its requirements?
No, only one owner.
T6: Can an application be filed without its complete documents? If yes, what is the deadline for filing the documents?
Yes. 6 months.
T7: Can one application cover more than one class of goods/services?
No.
T8: May priority be claimed under the Paris Convention?
Yes.
T9: What is the term of protection of a trademark? From what date is it calculated?
10 Years, from the date of filing.
T10: Is marking compulsory and, if so, how should marking be made?
No.
T11: In the event a trademark is not renewed in due time, and another company applies to register the same trademark, can the original owner oppose the registration or not?
Yes, based on prior use.
T12: If a trademark was initially filed incorrectly, what documentation would be required to amend the official register to show the correct details?
It depends on the type of mistake.
T13: Is use required before registration or for maintaining the registration in force?
No.
T14: Is use of the trademark on one item sufficient to maintain the protection over all the goods covered by the registration?
Yes.
T15: What are the types of use required?
Any type of use is sufficient.
T16: Can the assignment of an application be recorded?
Yes.
T17: Is recording a license agreement compulsory? What are the consequences of non-recordal?
Not compulsory, but recommendable. No consequences
T18: Can recordals such as change of name, address, merger, assignment, license, etc., be made against pending applications?
Yes.
T19: Can an assignment be made with or without the goodwill? What monetary consideration is to be mentioned as the value of the assignment? Is there any tax based on the value mentioned?
Yes. US $ 1 is enough. No tax.
T20: Can the trademark application be opposed and what is the opposition period?
Yes. Three months from the date of publication in the official gazette.
Patents
P1: Can a patent search be conducted?
Yes.
P2: Can a patent application be filed without its complete documents?
Yes.
P3: Can convention priority be claimed? Paris Convention?
Yes.
P4: Can a registration be obtained for pharmaceutical products?
Not under the current law.
P5: What is the term of protection of a patent and from which date is it calculated? Can it be extended?
20 years from the date of filing in Egypt. No, it cannot be extended.
P6: Is a secret form of filing a model/design permitted?
No
P7: Is there a novelty requirement? Is it local or worldwide?
Yes. Local.
P8: Are utility models granted protection in your country under the Current Law.
No.
P9: Is the patent protection available for software alone, or must the software be coupled with computer hardware in order to permit patent application?
No. Yes.
P10: Can the specification or claims be amended?
Yes.
P11: Could annuity payments be made before the granting of the patent?
Yes.
P12: In what language should the specification and claims of the patent be filed?
Arabic specification and abstract plus English abstract.
P13: Is working of the invention required to keep protection in force and, if so, can the working requirements be satisfied by importation or nominal working?
Yes. Yes.
P14:What are the conditions that might lead to a compulsory license?
Non-use for 3 consecutive years after grant of the patent.
P15: Must assignments be recorded within a certain period?
No.
P16: Does the Patent Law provide for licenses or registered users?
Yes.
P17: Does the Patent Office publish patent applications in the Official Gazette?
Yes.
Designs
D1: Are designs registrable in your country?
Yes.
D2: Should the design application be filed under the form of drawings and/or photographs?
Yes.
D3: What are the novelty requirements for a design application to be valid?
New shape.
D4: Can convention priority be claimed in your country? Paris Convention?
Yes.
D5: Does your country use the international classification?
Yes.
D6: Are there any goods or services for which the design can not be registered?
No.
D7: Is the assignment of the creator compulsory for a design application?
No.
D8: Is there any deadline to apply for the publication of a secret filing of a model/design?
No.
D9: Are there any special advantages in filing a model or a design in a secret form?
No.
D10: Is it possible to file more than one design/model in the same application?
Yes.
D11: What is the term of protection of a model or design in your country?
5 years for 3 times (total of 15 years).
D12: Is use required to maintain a registration of a model or design in your country?
No.
D13: Are designs/models protected by copyright law as well?
Yes.
D14: Are there provisions in your law to oppose a model/design registration?
Yes, through the court.
D15: Is it possible to apply for cancellation of a model/design filed in a secret form?
No.
Copyrights
C1: Is copyright protected in your country?
Yes.
C2: What types of items are protected by copyright law in your country?
All types.
C3: What is the length of protection of a copyright in your country?
For the rest of the author's life plus 50 years after his death.
C4: How long does a copyright take to be registered?
Three days.
C5: What kind of sanctions does your copyright law provide against infringers?
Civil and criminal.
C6: Are there any limitations of copyright in your jurisdictions?
In most cases no.
C7: Must transfer agreements be recorded?
Not compulsory, but recommendable. No consequences.
C8: Must license agreements be recorded?
Not compulsory, but recommendable. No consequences.
C9: Are there any consequences of non recordal of agreements?
No.
Domain Names
N1: Are Domain names protected under a special law?
No.
N2: Must the Domain name be used in order to have protection?
No.
N3: Can I register a domain name as a trademark for protection? If Yes which class?
Yes, in class 35.
N4: What is the length of protection of a domain name in your country?
No limitation, but has to be renewed annually.
N5 : If the domain name is linked to the the original website, is the client liable for any material existing on the original website?
Yes.