Trademark registration procedure in Uganda
- Conduct a Search. A person who intends to apply for the registration of a trademark carries out a search in the trademarks registry to ascertain whether the trademark exists in the register and if not, whether it is suitable, that is, it is not offensive.
- Advice by the Registrar. A person may if he or she wishes obtain advice from the registrar as to whether the proposed trademark appears to the registrar to be inherently adapted to distinguish or capable of distinguishing goods or services of the proposed undertaking from those of other undertakings. The registrar shall then advice accordingly.
- Filing of Application for trademark registration. The application is filed upon payment of application fees. The application should contain the mark proposed to be used, the class of goods or services, the name, address and the signature of applicant. If the applicant is a foreign company, a power of attorney or form of authorization to an advocate of the High Court of Uganda will be sufficient.
- Examination of application. The registrar will then determine the trademark is registrable and whether it conflicts with prior existing registrations or applications for trademark registrations.
- Publication of Application. If the application is accepted by the registrar, the application will be advertised in the official government gazette for 60 days.
- Certificate of registration. If there is no opposition after the expiration of sixty days of the advertisement, the Registrar shall upon payment of the necessary registration fees by the applicant enter in the trademark register and issue certificate of registration of the trademark
Fees payable for trademark registration
The fees payable depends on whether the trademark is a local or foreign trademark.
The other determining factor is whether the applicant intends to use an attorney in the process of trademark registration or will follow up the trademark registration process without the help of an attorney. The amount payable in professional fees depends on the attorney engaged in the registration process.
Opposition of trademark registration
There are instances when the trademark which is intended to be registered conflicts with an already registered trademark. The law allows such a person to oppose the registration of a trademark that he or she is of the opinion that it conflicts with their trademark.
Procedure for opposition of trademark registration
- Filing notice of opposition. The opposing party files a notice of opposition and statement of grounds with the registrar of trademarks within sixty days from the date of publication of the trademark application. The applicant is then sent a copy of the opposition documents for a response.
- Counterstatement filed by applicant. The applicant files a counter statement within thirty days. The counter statement is then sent to the applicant for reply if any and further evidence.
- Hearing of the opposition and decision. The opposition is then set down for hearing and a decision is made by the registrar. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the registrar has a right through his or her advocate to appeal to the High Court of Uganda.
