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Register a Trademark in Cyprus

Register a Trademark in Cyprus

 Natural persons and companies have the right to apply for trademark registration in Cyprus, according to the national legislation applicable here. Having a trademark registered in this country will mean enhanced protection against third parties of their rights on a specific sign.

Foreign citizens and business owners can also apply for trademark registration in Cyprus, however, they can also benefit from extended protection at international level (including in their countries of origin) as Cyprus is also a member of several conventions.

If you want to register a trademark in this country and need assistance, our Cypriot lawyers are at your service for complete support during the procedure.

You can rely on us if you are a foreign citizens interested in trademark registration in Cyprus.

Legislation protecting trademarks in Cyprus

Cyprus has a very rigorous legal framework for the protection of intellectual property rights. When it comes to trademarks, the following laws are meant to protect those who register a trademark in Cyprus. Based on international legislation, Cyprus adhered to all EU Directives, but also to:

  • the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property,
  • the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Convention,
  • the Madrid Protocol,
  • the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
 Quick Facts  
  Applicable law Trademarks Law (Chapter 268), Case Law, several international agreements and conventions 

Types of trademarks

Generic, simple, descriptive, service, logos and collective marks can be registered as
trademarks in Cyprus

Special registration for foreigners (YES/NO)

 NO, any foreigner can register a trademark in Cyprus
Option to register company name as trademark (YES/NO)

YES, trading names can obtain protection

Possibility to register domain name as a trademark (YES/NO)

YES, domain names can be registered as Cypriot trademarks

Online registration possibility (YES/NO) YES, the trademark registration documents can be filed online 
Trademark examination duration (approx.) 2 months
Time to obtain a registration certificate (approx.)   A few days
Total duration of trademark registration process (approx.) 5 to 7 months
Validity of registered trademark  7 years initially
Renewal requirements  Renewal application must be filed 6 months before expiry. Renewal is valid for another 14 years 
International recognition of Cypriot trademark (YES/NO) Recognition under the Madrid system 
Special trademark registration requirements (YES/NO) If not used for 5 years, a Cypriot trademark can be revoked 
Trademark registration services availability (YES/NO) YES, we offer support for trademark registration
in Cyprus
 Other IP-rights services availability (YES/NO)  YES, trademark renewal services, international trademark registration and recognition services
 Required characteristics for trademark

– Uniqueness;

– distinctiveness;

– not being offensive.

 Forms of trademarks

Trademarks can take the form of letters and words, signs, colors, shapes, or any combination of them 

 Pre-registration verification required (YES/NO)

 No, prior verification is not required, however, it is recommended

Possibility to register a trademark at EU level   Yes, it is possible to register a Cypriot trademark at EU level
 Possibility to convert an EU trademark into a Cypriot one (YES/NO)

 Yes, an European trademark can be converted into a Cypriot one

 International recognition available for Cypriot trademarks (YES/NO)

 Yes, Cypriot trademarks can obtain international recognition

 Authority in charge of trademark registration

  Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry deepening on the registration method

 International bodies in charge of recognizing Cypriot trademarks

 European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) 

 Possibility for natural persons to register trademarks in Cyprus (YES/NO)

 Yes, natural persons can also register trademarks in Cyprus

 Documents to file for trademark registration

– Application form;

– description and representation of the trademark;

– proof of payment of the registration fee.

 Costs associated with registering a trademark

Registration fees depend on the type and class of the trademark 

 Trademark opposition availability

 A trademark is published in the Official Gazette for 2 months for oppositions to be filed

 Requirements to use the trademark after registration (YES/NO)

 Yes, the trademark must be used at least once in the first 5 years in order to avoid deregistration

 Possibility to register a trademark through proxy (YES/NO)

Yes, our lawyer in Cyprus can act as proxies in registering trademarks 

 Support in trademark litigation (YES/NO) Yes, you can rely on our law firm for support in trademark litigation. 

At national level, Cyprus has the Trademarks Law or Chapter 268 and the Case law.

The  trademark registration in Cyprus is quite simple compared to other jurisdictions.

The trademark under the Cypriot legislation

At a national level, the main laws that provide for trademark registration in Cyprus are the Trade Marks Law, which was last amended in 2006, and the Control of the Movement of Goods Infringing the Intellectual Property Rights Law of 2018.

According to these two important laws which have been altered in order to provide enhanced protection, a trademark can take the form of signs, letters, numbers, words, colors and shapes which can be combined together in a manner that is unique and makes it possible to be used by itself to represent the goods and/or services it was designed for.

There are several types of trademarks that can be registered in Cyprus. These are:

  1. simple trademarks which are the easiest and cheapest to register;
  2. service marks which are used for designating the service provided by a company or person;
  3. collective marks which are used for designating a group of products or services;
  4. certification marks which are marks that have met certain standards before being registered.

Our law firm in Cyprus can help you understand the type of trademark you need to register in accordance with the type of services or products you want to protect.

If you have a business and are interested in trademark registration in Cyprus for its trading name, you can rely on our lawyers.

What can be registered as a trademark in Cyprus?

According to the Cypriot legislation, not all signs can be registered as trademarks. These must have certain characteristics and meet specific requirements in order to be accepted and registered as such. While there are several types of trademarks, they must usually take the form of signs, colors, names, shapes or any combination of these and must meet the following two important requirements:

  • they must designate a product or a service in a manner in which they make a clear distinction from other similar goods and/or services;
  • they must take a form that enables the Cypriot Trademark Register to accept them and issue certificates of registration to their users.

If you want to register a trademark, our lawyers in Cyprus are at your disposal with verification services in order to see if the sign you want to register meets the requirements imposed by the local laws. There are also a few important requisites that provide for the types of marks for which registration cannot be obtained and our lawyers can also advise on these matters. Here is an infographic:

The main ways of registering a trademark in Cyprus

There are several ways through which a trademark registration certificate can be obtained by a natural person or company in Cyprus. The first one implies filing the application form with the Department of Registrar of Companies and Official Receiver Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry. There are also the options of registering a trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) or with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) by mentioning Cyprus as contracting state.

It is also useful to note that foreign citizens and companies can register trademarks in Cyprus without being residents of this country.

The trademark registration process in Cyprus takes a few months to complete, therefore it is important to start it as soon as possible.

Steps and documents for trademark registration in Cyprus

The following steps must be completed when registering a trademark in Cyprus:

  1. the filing of the documents with the selected Registrar;
  2. the examination of the trademark;
  3. the publication of the trademark in the Official Gazette;
  4. the issuance of the Certificate of Registration.

When it comes to the documents that need to be filed, the following must be considered:

  • the application form;
  • a description of the trademark and the services/products it will represent;
  • a graphic representation of the trademark;
  • proof of payment of the application fee;
  • the power of attorney when the application is made through a proxy.

As mentioned earlier, our lawyers in Cyprus can handle the registration procedure which can take up to 9 months and provide regular updates on the stage of the process. Our lawyers can handle the registration process of any type of trademark based on a power of attorney.

You can rely on us during the entire trademark registration procedure in Cyprus.

Trademark verification before registration

Before filing the registration file, a verification of the trademark to be used in Cyprus is recommended. Even if the Trademark Office will perform its own due diligence procedures and will also publish the sign for contestations and oppositions.

Trademark verification can be completed by our specialists who will look into other similar trademarks previously registered and see if any issue could arise. The search is done with the Trademark Office and is completed relatively quickly. This is one of the safest of ensuring a smooth registration procedure which is already quite lengthy. However, compared to other jurisdictions, in Cyprus registering a trademark requires a shorter timespan of 6 to 7 months. By comparison, in other European countries, this process can take up to 12 months.

The verification of a trademark is quite important as it can lead to the avoidance of litigation. However, there is another side of this procedure. Considering that not all trademarks can be accepted for registration, a through due diligence can also imply:

  • meeting all the requirements imposed by the law;
  • making sure the trademark is not offensive;
  • ensuring the trademark is original and it serves the purpose it was created for.

For example, did you know that a trademark consisting in a part or characteristic of a product cannot be registered in Cyprus? This one of the simplest reasons for which trademark verification is advisable before submitting the paperwork for trademark registration.

If you have any questions on trademark registration in Cyprus, we have a team of lawyers who can verify all the aspects related to this extensive procedure and provide you with detailed information for the best outcome possible.

Trademark registration procedure in Cyprus

The trademark registration procedure can only by conducted by lawyers in Cyprus. In order to register a trademark in Cyprus, the lawyer will need a power of attorney and a filled application form, called Form TM2. The application must be filed separately for each class of products or services. The power of attorney, however, may be general.

Once the application is filed, the Cypriot Trademark Registrar will examine the petition and publish it in the Official Gazette for two months. During these two months anyone with a solid reason may file for trademark opposition. If no opposition is registered, the Cypriot Registrar will issue a registration certificate with a copy of the trademark.

Trademarks in Cyprus have seven-year validity from the initial registration and may be renewed for 14 years after the first 7 years. 

What are the requirements for Cypriot trademarks?

Once the application is filed, the Registrar must examine the trademark and make sure it complies with all legal requirements. In order to be registered, a Cypriot trademark must respect the following requirements:

  • it must be distinctive,
  • it must not resemble any  previously registered trademark,
  • it must not deceive the public it is intended for.

Based on these requirements, the Registrar may approve the registration of the trademark, may approve the registration under certain conditions, may request the application to be amended or may refuse the registration. The Registrar’s decision may be appealed before the Cypriot Supreme Court.

The trademark registration in Cyprus can be handled by our attorneys, as shown in the video below:

Company names as trademarks in Cyprus

Some of the most employed types of trademarks in Cyprus are company names.

Because all companies want their services or goods they produce and market to be known as their own, having their trading names registered comes as a natural step when running a business. The good news about registering a trading name as a trademark in Cyprus is that upon reserving the name, the Trade Register requires the name to be original which is quite helpful when applying for trademark registration.

The requirements imposed by the Company Law resemble to some extent to those of the Trade Marks Act which will simplify the registration procedure with the Cypriot Trademarks Office.

Once obtained the trademark registration certificate, the company can ensure the recognition of its products, but most importantly can avoid losing money because of counterfeit goods sold as original ones.

A company name registered as a trademark can also ease the procedure of setting up a branch of a Cypriot company in another country.

If you need assistance in registering a business and obtaining recognition of your company name as an official trademark, you can rely on our law firm in Cyprus for both services.

Trademark registration at international level from Cyprus

One of the important things to consider obtaining a trademark registration certificate in Cyprus is that this document will only be recognized in this country. For international recognition the owner must file different application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for EU recognition and the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) for having the trademark recognized in most countries in the world.

Do not hesitate to ask our Cypriot lawyers for more information on international trademark registration.

Trademark registration services in Cyprus

Our Cyprus law firm can assist local and foreign citizens and companies through the registration procedures of their trademarks in order to avoid possible complications that can delay the issuance of the Certificates of Registration. Such delays can be caused by missing paperwork or even refusal of registration. This is why we can first perform a search on the selected trademark in order to make sure it will not be refused.

If you have any questions or need information about our services and the trademark registration process in Cyprus, you can request details from our lawyers.

Statistics on IP registration in Cyprus

According to WIPO, Cyprus has been registering a constant increase in the number of IP applications, among which trademarks occupy the first place. At the level of 2018:

  • there were 58,063 trademark class applications in Cyprus;
  • among these, 2,740 trademark class applications were filed locally be Cypriot residents, while 2,975 were filed by non-residents;
  • there were also 432 patent applications filed in this country;
  • industrial design applications have also reached 10,617 applications.

For complete details about the protection of intellectual property rights and the trademark registration procedure, you can contact our law firm in Cyprus.