Georgia Trademark Registration

Georgia is a “first-to-file” jurisdiction, which means that exclusive rights are generally granted to the party that first files a trademark application, not necessarily the one that first uses the mark. Only in exceptional situations can an unregistered but well-known mark receive protection.

To secure protection, trademark applications must be filed with the **National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia (Sakpatenti). You can file:

• A national application directly with Sakpatenti; or
• An international registration designating Georgia through the Madrid System, as Georgia is a member of the Madrid Protocol.

A registered trademark in Georgia also extends protection to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, although these territories are disputed and enforcing rights there may be difficult in practice.

If you register a combined mark (word + logo), protection is limited to the exact configuration as filed. If you plan to use the word element and figurative element separately, it is advisable to file separate applications for each element you want to protect on its own.

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

• Original Power of Attorney, signed. No notarization or legalization 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 time to complete the trademark registration process in Georgia is approximately 14 months in straightforward cases.

This is an estimated timeframe based on current practice and may vary depending on objections, oppositions, or other procedural factors.

Once the trademark is registered in Georgia:

• It is valid for 10 years from the registration date.
• It can be renewed indefinitely in successive 10-year periods.
• There is a grace period of six (6) months after expiration during which you can still request renewal upon payment of an additional late renewal fee.

A registered Georgian trademark also covers Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but enforcement in these territories may be challenging due to their disputed status.

Yes. In Georgia, third parties may file opposition actions against a local trademark application:

• Oppositions must be filed within three (3) months from the publication of the application in the Official Bulletin of Industrial Property.

The outcome will depend on the specific circumstances of each case, including similarity of the marks and goods/services involved.

Use is not required to obtain registration in Georgia; a trademark can be registered even if it has not yet been used.

However, after registration:

• If the mark is not used for a continuous period of five (5) years, it becomes vulnerable to cancellation actions based on non-use.
• In certain situations, lack of use may be justified, which can serve as a defense against cancellation.