Trademark Registration in Tunisia

In Tunisia, trademark registration is mandatory to be granted rights over a trademark, because it is a "first to file" jurisdiction. Only in some exceptional cases can an unregistered trademark be protected, so relying only on use offers very limited protection.

Trademark applications must be filed with the National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property INNORPI.
Tunisia is also a member state of the Madrid Protocol, which means it is possible to extend an international registration to Tunisia through the Madrid System.

If you register a combined trademark (with both word and figurative elements) in Tunisia, your exclusive right to use the mark is limited to the exact configuration in which it was filed and registered. If you want to use the word element separately from the logo (or the logo separately from the wording), it is recommended to file another trademark that includes only the elements you wish to use and protect separately.

For trademark assessment reports, the trademark must be in the Latin alphabet, and only trademarks in Latin alphabet will be considered. If you need a study for a trademark written in the local writing system (Arabic), and that includes results of trademarks in Arabic, you can contact us; additional fees will apply.

If you would like the figurative or design elements to be considered in a Trademark Search Report for Tunisia, you should contact us directly so we can confirm whether this is possible in this jurisdiction. In that case, service prices and estimated delivery times may vary.

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

• Scanned copy of a signed Power of Attorney. 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 application process in Tunisia takes 14 months. This is an estimated timeframe for straightforward cases, based on current application processing times, and it may vary considerably depending on the circumstances of each case.

Once registered, trademarks in Tunisia are valid for 10 years from the application date and can be renewed indefinitely for further periods of ten (10) years.

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

Yes. If a third party attempts to register or use a trademark for similar goods or services that includes a primary or distinct 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 two (2) months following the publication of the application in the trademarks journal. The probabilities of success of an opposition will vary in each case depending on the specific circumstances.

A trademark does not need to be in use in order to register in Tunisia. However, if it is not used for more than five (5) years after registration, it becomes vulnerable to cancellation actions based on lack of use of the trademark.