In the Maldives, trademark rights arise from use: the person or company that uses the mark in this territory is the one who acquires the rights over it.
Even so, it is strongly recommended to publish a cautionary notice in local newspapers stating that you claim ownership of the trademark. This publication serves to:
- Make your claim to the mark public and visible in the country.
- Help reinforce your position as the owner in case of conflict with third parties.
There is no standard trademark registration system for foreign owners. However, official trademark registration is possible for companies that are registered in the Maldives, and this is handled by the Intellectual Property Unit of the Ministry of Economic Development. If you have a Maldivian-registered company and wish to register your trademark officially, you would work through that office.