New Trade Mark Law Come into Effect in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABAB - New Trade Mark Regulations were published in Ethiopia on 24 December 2012, giving full force and effect to the Trade Mark Registration and Protection Proclamation of 2006, according to Lysaght & Co.

The new law extends the term of a registration to 7 years from the date of filing, renewable for like periods. Service marks are now registerable, and there is provision for publication and opposition proceedings. Priority may be claimed and the 8th Edition of the Nice Classification is being followed.

There is much uncertainty about the status of existing registrations and applications filed before 24 December 2012. It is advised that existing registrations can no longer be renewed and must be re-filed under the new law. There is a "sunrise period" of 18 months enabling owners of existing registrations to do this. Whilst there is currently some uncertainty, the sunrise period may began on 24 December 2012, and will therefore end on 24 June 2014.

There is also some uncertainty about the level of official fees to be charged under the new law, both for new applications and for the re-registration of existing cases.