The new law introduces an independent trademark registration system and, therefore, it will no longer be necessary to base Belize applications on a registered U.K. national trademark.
Trademarks are registered for a term of 10 years from the date of filing in Belize.
A trademark application will cover only one class of goods or services. Trademarks registered under the old law are automatically in force under the new act.
Belize
Revised Industrial Property Law - Patents
The Patent Act in Belize has been revised. The new law will be having effect from December 31, 2000. A requirement of absolute novelty has been introduced by the new legislation. Thus the revised law does not provide for filing applications for revalidation of foreign granted patents in Belize.
However, the revised act does include transitional provisions, which set a period of 12 months from the entry into force of the revised act. During the said period proprietors of foreign UK or European (UK) patents may apply for revalidation of their patents. The transitional period expires on December 31, 2001.