Deadline for amendment or re-registration of trademarks extended

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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.