Dominican Republic (DO)
Legal basis is the Industrial Property Law 20-00 of May 8th, 2000.
Trademark protection is obtained by registration.
Nice classification
Registrable as a trademark are all distinctive and graphically representable signs, such as words, names, acronyms, letters, numbers, devices, emblems, colours, combinations or shades of colours, three-dimensional forms, the three-dimensional form of a good or its packaging and any combination of the mentioned signs.
The following trademark types are registrable: trade marks, service marks, collective marks, certification marks, trade names and titles of establishment.
The application is filed at the trademark department of the “Oficina Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial (ONAPI)”.
Multiple-class applications are possible.
Foreign applicants need a local agent.
A power of attorney authenticated by a consulate of the Dominican Republic or Apostille is necessary.
Foreign applicants do not need a domestic registration.
The application process includes a formal examination and an examination of distinctiveness, but no search for prior trademarks.
The processing time from first filing approval for publication or first office action is approx. 1 month.
After the approval for publication, the trademark is published in a nationwide journal.
National:
The opposition period is 45 days from publication date of the trademark.
Opposition against designation of IR Mark
(The period starts from the national publication date, if not stated differently):
not a member of the Madrid Agreement or Protocol.
A trademark registration is valid for 10 years. The registration is renewable for periods of 10 years.
The grace period for renewals is 6 months from the expiration date of the trademark. The mark remains in full force during the grace period.
A registered trademark may be cancelled at the request of any interested party if it has not been used within the country during 3 consecutive years prior to the cancellation request, which cannot be filed within the first 3 years of registration.
The official fee is approx. EUR 275.00 including the publication fee.
| Search type |
First class |
Add. class |
| Word Mark Search (availability) |
340,00 € |
250,00 € |
| Word Mark Search (identical) |
310,00 € |
210,00 € |
| Extended Search (word mark, company name, domain) |
830,00 € |
250,00 € |
| Device Mark Search (availability) |
420,00 € |
330,00 € |
| Trademark Owner Search |
310,00 € |
|
| Company Name Search |
590,00 € |
|
| Domain Name Search (extended) |
|
|
| i-Search (word mark availability + legal opinion) |
740,00 € |
600,00 € |
The Prices above are S.M.D. Markeur Search Fees
Country Index is a free service of S.M.D. Markeur, an international IP searching and monitoring firm.
We would like to thank the following law firms for their assistance in updating the information provided:
Country Survey
11-18-2010
Moeller IP Advisors, Buenos Aires, Argentina