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GHANA – ARIPO

COUNTRY   : REPUBLIC OF GHANA

CAPITAL : ACCRA

LANGUAGE : ENGLISH    

 

Trademarks are managed by Registrar General’s Department, Ministry of Justice in Ghana.

International Treaties to which Ghana is signatory:

 

PROTECTION OF TRADEMARKS IN GHANA:

  1. National Registration       – Direct Filing with National Trademark Office.
  2. International Registration   –  Through Madrid System.
  3. Banjul Protocol on Trademarks – ARIPO Countries.

 

Therefore, to obtain protection in Ghana, there are three options from which the applicant can choose.

Please refer our  Treaties section on International protection under Madrid System.

 

MEMBER STATES: ARIPO is a community of 18 Former English Colonies which are English speaking Countries.

Member Countries are: Member Countries are: Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation known more commonly by its acronym (ARIPO) was established at Lusaka through Banjul Protocol on Marks and is now headquartered along with its administrative offices at Harare, Zimbabwe.

 

It is to be noted that most of the ARIPO member countries have not amended their national laws to incorporate ARIPO’s guidelines on trademark law.

Therefore, all prospective applicants are requested to file applications for registration of trademarks through national registration system through the national IP offices.


  • Kinds of Trademarks registrable in GHANA – ARIPO

    • Following indications may be used as Trademarks in Ghana:

      • Service marks
      • Certification marks
      • Defensive marks
  • Requisites for a Trademark to be registrable in GHANA – ARIPO
      • Trademarks must contain the following essential requirements to be registrable in Ghana:
      • The trademark should not be contrary to public order or morality
      • The trademark should not reproduce, contain or imitate State, Inter-Governmental, International insignia, seals and emblems
  • Kinds of Trademarks not registrable in GHANA – ARIPO

    • Applicants should bear in mind that the following will not be registrable as Trademarks in Ghana:

      Trademarks that do not perform the function of enabling consumers to differentiate between applicants goods / services from those of the other competitors in the market.

      Trademarks contravening public interest.

  • Trademark Search in GHANA – ARIPO

    • It is highly advisable to conduct a search of the proposed mark to ensure that a similar mark has not been applied for by other contenders and is not pending registration or is already registered.

      Our Attorneys are at hand to assist you with searches and provide opinions about registrarbility of the proposed / coined trademark in Ghana.

  • Trademark Filing in GHANA – ARIPO

    • Filing is done with the Trademark office of Ghana.Applicant has to furnish the following documentation for filing:

      1. Name of the applicant
      2. Logo (if any) in B/W or Colour
      3. Address along with nationality of the Applicanti
      4. Classes in which Registration is sought
      5. Power of Attorney (POA)
      6. Details regarding Goods and Services for which registration sought(Goods and Services classified as per NICE classification)

      TRADEMARKCOPIA.COM  will assist you with the following:

      • Filings
      • Infringement & Opposition Actions
      • Renewals
      • License and Assignment procedures
      • Trademark Watch Services
  • Trademark Examination in GHANA – ARIPO

    • Once the trademark application is filed, it is examined to ascertain fulfillment of all the requisites by way of formality examination and substantive examination.

      Non-fulfillment of any of the requisites is an absolute ground for refusal of registration of the trademark application.

  • Trademark Publication & Opposition in GHANA – ARIPO

    • Post examination, the trademark application is published in the official IP gazette to which interested third parties may file their opposition.

      In the event the application does not encounter any opposition, it proceeds to registration.

  • Trademark Registration in GHANA – ARIPO

    • Once the application is published and has overcome all the objections by the examiners and opposition if any by third parties, it is registered and a certificate of registration issued to the applicant.

  • Trademark Usage in GHANA – ARIPO

    • Post Registration: In the event the trademark is not used continuously for 5 yrs. after registration, the mark becomes vulnerable for revocation and / or cancellation.

  • Trademark Cost of Registration in GHANA – ARIPO

    • Please write mail for the cost of registration of trademark in Ghana  to the mail address given below:

      contact@trademarkcopia.com

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