Ethiopia: Council of Ministers Regulation No. 273/2012 of December 24, 2012 on Trademark Registration and Protection

December 24, 2012

Ethiopia: The Council of Ministers Regulation No. 273/2012 of December 24, 2012 on Trademark Registration and Protection was issued on December 24, 2012 and entered into force on the same date. This Regulation brings into force a new trademark regime for the registration of trademark rights as provided in the Trademark Registration and Protection Proclamation No. 501/2006. Accordingly, it provides detailed provisions on the trademark registration process including the application for registration, examination, opposition, changes after registration, renewals, and invalidity and revocation of registration.

In addition, it contains provisions relating to the transfer of ownership and license contract of a registered mark, and provisions on division, and merger of separate applications and registration of a series of trademarks. It further contains the Schedule on the Fees relating to trademark services. Article 59 of the Regulation stipulates that the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) may issue directives necessary for the implementation of the 2006 Proclamation and this Regulation.