Trademark Registration in Egypt

Egypt is a first-to-file jurisdiction, which means that, in practice, only registration grants enforceable rights over a trademark. Using a mark in Egypt without registering it will generally not be enough to secure exclusive rights, except for very limited situations involving certain well-known trademarks.

To obtain protection, your application must be filed with the Egypt trademark office EGYPO. Egypt is also a member of the Madrid Protocol, so you may either file directly in Egypt or extend an existing International Registration to Egypt via the Madrid System. We offer services for trademark filing through the Madrid System.

If you file a combined trademark (word + logo), the protection will be limited to the exact configuration as filed. To protect the word and the logo separately, you should consider filing additional, separate applications for each element.

To register a trademark in Egypt, you will generally need:

• Original Power of Attorney, duly signed, notarized, and legalized before the Consulate of Egypt, together with a simple copy of the Commercial Register, with no authentication required.
• The name or logo you want to register
• The applicant’s details

Your iGERENT consultant will confirm the exact requirements for your case and guide you through each step.

The average timeframe for a straightforward trademark registration in Egypt is about 21 months.

This is an estimated processing time, based on current practice for uncomplicated cases. The actual duration may vary, especially if there are office actions, objections, or oppositions by third parties.

Once the registration is granted, your trademark in Egypt will be valid for 10 years from the application date.

After that:

• The registration can be renewed indefinitely for consecutive periods of 10 years.
• If the mark is not renewed before expiry, you may still renew it during a six (6)–month grace period following the expiration date, subject to late renewal fees.

Keeping track of renewal deadlines and ensuring timely payment is essential to avoid losing your rights.

Yes. Third parties can file opposition actions against trademark applications in Egypt.

• The opposition must be filed within sixty (60) days from the date of publication in the official gazette.
• The success of an opposition will depend on the circumstances of each case, including the similarity of the marks, the goods/services, and the evidence submitted.

If another party seeks to register a mark that includes a primary or distinctive part of your trademark for similar goods or services, you may oppose it based on likelihood of confusion.

There is no requirement to prove use to file or obtain a trademark registration in Egypt.

However, once the mark is registered, non-use has consequences. If the trademark is not used for a continuous period of five (5) years after registration, it becomes vulnerable to cancellation actions for non-use filed by third parties. Actual commercial use of the mark helps maintain and defend your registration.