Nicaragua (NI)
Legal basis is the Trademark Act, in force since October 22nd, 2001. The international classification of goods and services consisting of 45 classes has been adopted.
Trademark protection is obtained by registration.
Registrable as a trademark are all distinctive and graphically representable signs, such as words, names, acronyms, letters, numbers, devices, holograms, combinations or shades of colours, three-dimensional forms, the three-dimensional form of a good or its packaging, sound marks and any combination of the mentioned signs.
The following trademark types are registrable: trade marks, service marks, collective marks, certification marks and trade names.
The application is filed at the Patent Office.
Multiple-class applications are possible.
Foreign applicants need a local agent.
A power of attorney signed in the presence of a notary and authenticated by a consulate of Nicaragua is necessary.
Foreign applicants do not necessarily need a domestic registration.
The application process includes a formal examination, an examination of distinctiveness and a search for prior trademarks.
The processing time from first filing to registration or first office action is approx. 10 months.
Before registration, the trademark application is published in the gazette.
The substantive examination – earlier described – takes place after the trademarkʼs publication.
The opposition period is 2 months from publication date of the application.
A trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the date of registration.
The registration is renewable for periods of 10 years.
If the trademark has not been used within 3 years from the registration, it may be subject to cancellation.
The official fee is USD 69.00 (approx. EUR 47.00).
| Search type |
First class |
Add. class |
| Word Mark Search (availability) |
230,00 € |
190,00 € |
| Word Mark Search (identical) |
210,00 € |
150,00 € |
| Extended Search (word mark, company name, domain) |
690,00 € |
190,00 € |
| Device Mark Search (availability) |
420,00 € |
290,00 € |
| Trademark Owner Search |
340,00 € |
|
| Company Name Search |
540,00 € |
|
| Domain Name Search (extended) |
|
|
| i-Search (word mark availability + legal opinion) |
460,00 € |
410,00 € |
The Prices above are S.M.D. Markeur Search Fees