MOGADISHU – Pursuant to the provisions of the Somali Trade Mark Law No. 3 of 22 January 1955, and its amendment by Law No. 33 of 18 January 1975, the Somali Trademark Office (TMO) has recently introduced examination and publication processes on trademark registrations.
Registration Procedure
It is now obligatory to lodge a “search request” for trademarks before filing an application to ensure that the sought mark is not registered by third parties.
If the search returns no results, applicants may submit an application after paying the prescribed fees. The TMO will then examine the application on absolute grounds before it proceeds to publication. The examination takes approximately ten (10) days.
If accepted, the application will advance to the Official Gazette publication, where the opposition period is 35 days.
Required Documents
The below documents must accompany the application:
- Power of attorney, no legalisation required;
- A photocopy of the applicant’s business license or the commercial register, and
- A copy of the registration certificate of the trademark in the home country or abroad.
For more information, please contact somalia@qumsieh.com.