In Lesotho, registration is necessary in order to protect a trademark and obtain exclusive rights over it. A mark can be registered locally with the trademark office under the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs – Registrar General's Office, or regionally through the African Regional Industrial Property Organization (ARIPO) under the Banjul Protocol.
Registering via ARIPO offers protection not only in Lesotho but also in several other member states, and this route is considerably faster than filing only at the local Lesotho office.
When registering, keep in mind that sounds, smells and holograms cannot be protected as trademarks in Lesotho. If you file a combined trademark (word + logo), protection is limited to the exact configuration as registered. If you want to use the word and logo separately, it is advisable to file separate applications for each element.
If a third party later files or uses a similar mark for related goods or services, your registration allows you to oppose or challenge that conflicting mark based on confusing similarity.