Mozambique Trademark Registration

To obtain protection in Mozambique, a trademark must be registered, as registration is required to secure exclusive rights over the mark.

Trademark applications must be filed with the Industrial Property Institute of Mozambique IPI. Protection may be obtained in two main ways:

• Directly in Mozambique, by filing a local trademark with the Mozambique trademark office (IPI).
• **Through the African Regional Industrial Property Organization (ARIPO), since Mozambique is a member of ARIPO and a party to the Banjul Protocol. Registration via ARIPO grants protection in several member countries, as detailed on our page on trademark services in ARIPO.
• Additionally, Mozambique is a member state of the Madrid Protocol, so it is also possible to obtain protection by extending an international registration through the Madrid System. We offer services for trademark filing through the Madrid System.

If you register a combined trademark (including both word and figurative elements) in Mozambique, the exclusive right to use the mark is limited to the exact configuration in which it was filed and registered. If you wish to use only the word element or only the figurative element separately, it is recommended to file a separate trademark including only the elements you want to use and protect independently.

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

• Original Power of Attorney, signed and notarized.
• 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 application process takes 3 months.

This is an estimated process time for straightforward cases, based on current timeframes for trademark applications in Mozambique. Actual processing times may vary considerably.

Registered trademarks in Mozambique are valid for 10 years from the application date and can be renewed indefinitely for additional periods of ten (10) years.

If a trademark is not renewed before its expiration date, there is a grace period of six (6) months after expiration during which renewal is still possible, subject to the payment of a late renewal fee.

It is also recommended that a declaration of use be presented during the lifespan of a trademark in Mozambique. For further information on this point, the text refers to the FAQ section at the bottom of the page.

Yes. If a third party intends to register or use a trademark for similar goods or services that includes a primary or distinctive part of your trademark, you have the right to oppose the application based on confusing similarity.

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

The text indicates that it is recommended that a declaration of use be submitted during the life of a trademark in Mozambique, and refers to the FAQ section for more information.

However, the text does not specify whether use is strictly required to maintain registration or the exact legal consequences if the mark is not used.