In Yemen, trademark rights are based on use, meaning that the person or company who first uses the trademark in the territory is the one who initially acquires the preferential rights over it.
However, even though registration is not legally mandatory, in practice it is strongly recommended because:
- It helps prove clear ownership of the mark.
- It helps prevent future conflicts over who owns the trademark.
- It makes it much easier and less costly to act in cases of trademark infringement or unauthorized use by third parties.
To obtain a registration, your application must be filed with the Yemen Intellectual Property Office (YIPO).
You do not need to prove prior use in Yemen to file or register your trademark. Nonetheless, previous use can be very helpful to overcome objections for lack of distinctiveness, as it may show that your mark has acquired distinctiveness through use.
If you register a combined trademark (containing both word and figurative elements, such as a logo), your exclusive rights will cover only the exact form in which the mark is registered. If you also want to use and protect the word or logo separately, it is advisable to file additional trademarks for those elements individually.
For trademark search reports, the mark must be in Latin alphabet and the results will only cover trademarks in Latin script. If you need a search for an Arabic-script mark, including results for trademarks in Arabic, you must contact us directly, as this service involves additional fees.