Deadline for amendment or re-registration of trademarks extended

On 24 December 2012, the Ethiopian government published enabling regulations which gave full force and effect to the Ethiopian Trademark Registration and Protection Proclamation of 2006, bringing about significant changes to procedures in Ethiopia.

In terms of the Act and Regulations, proprietors of existing trade mark rights, had until 23 June 2014 within which to either:

re-register trade mark registrations secured before 7 July 2006; or
amend trade mark registrations secured after 7 July 2006, to reflect a seven year renewal term.

Failure to act, would result in proprietors losing their registrations in Ethiopia.

In March 2014, Adams & Adams met with the director-general of the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) with a view to obtaining inter alia, an extension of the 23 June deadline. Written submissions were also lodged with the Ethiopian Registry in this regard.

On 16 June, representatives from Adams & Adams again travelled to Ethiopia and met with the director-general in Addis Ababa. At the meeting, our representatives were given a verbal assurance that the director-general had considered our submissions and would issue a decision later that day. An internal meeting of EIPO was held that evening. The director-general then contacted our representatives and verbally advised that the request for a six month extension had been granted but a written directive would be issued.

Adams & Adams has received a copy of the written directive and can confirm that the deadline had been extended to 23 December 2014.