Trademark Registration in Mozambique

Why and How to Register a Trademark in Mozambique

Trademark applications in must be filed with the Industrial Property Institute of Mozambique (IPI).

In order to protect a trademark in Mozambique, it must be registered. This may be done either directly through the local trademark office of Mozambique in order to register a local trademark or by filing a trademark through the African Regional Industrial Property Organization (ARIPO).

Mozambique is a member of the African Regional Industrial Property Organization (ARIPO) and a party to the Banjul Protocol. Registration through ARIPO grants protection and recognition in the following 12 countries: Botswana, the Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Eswatini, Uganda, Tanzania (mainland) and Zimbabwe. For more information please visit our page on trademark services in ARIPO.

Mozambique is also a member state to the Madrid Protocol. Thus, the extension of an international registration of a trademark via the Madrid System is possible for this country. For further information regarding our services for trademark filing through the Madrid System click here.

If you register a combined trademark (which includes both word elements and figurative elements) in Mozambique, the exclusive right to use the trademark is limited to a use of the trademark in the exact configuration or way in which it was filed and registered. If you wish to use the word element of your trademark separately from the logo (or vice versa), it is recommended you register for another trademark including only the word or figurative elements you wish to use and protect separately.

Nevertheless, if a third party eventually intends to register or use a trademark for similar goods or services that includes a primary or distinct part or portion of your trademark, you will have the right to oppose the application based on confusing similarity.

Opposition actions may be filed by interested third parties against a trademark application within a period of thirty (30) days following its publication in the trademarks journal. The probabilities of success for an opposition will vary in each case depending on the circumstances.

Registered trademarks in Mozambique have a validity of ten (10) years from the application date and can be renewed indefinitely for further periods of ten (10) years. The trademark renewal can be requested during the grace period of six (6) months after expiration, upon payment of a late renewal fee.

It is recommended that a declaration of use be presented during the lifespan of trademark in Mozambique. For further information regarding this, please see our FAQ section at the bottom of this page.

If you would like for the figurative or design elements of your trademark to be considered when assessing your trademark for registration in Mozambique (Trademark Search Report), contact us directly in order to determine if we may be able to offer this in this jurisdiction. In such cases, prices for service and estimated delivery times may vary.