Jun 25, 2020 (Newsletter Issue 10/20)
Accession to Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement
On June 10, 2020, the Director General of WIPO presents his compliments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and has the honor to notify the deposit by the Government of the Republic of Suriname of its instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs.
The Act will enter into force, with respect to the Republic of Suriname, on September 10, 2020.
Legal basis of the present Suriname legislation on trademarks is based on a Royal Order from 1912 (Regulations on the Factory and Trade Marks in the Colonies and the Aid Office for Industrial property).
This Law had been modified by the decree C‐81 of August 31, 1984. The original Law refers to the Old Dutch Trademark Law (Merkenrecht) of 1893. The present Trademark law for Suriname is highly similar to the trademark statute that was in force in the Netherlands before the Benelux Trademark law was adopted in 1969.
Suriname is not a Member of the Madrid Agreement or Protocol.
Trademark protection is obtained by first use. However, filing for registration is likely to be considered as evidence of first use. First use can also be based on sales of or use of or providing of the goods in the local market, advertising of the goods in local or international media which are published or sold in Suriname or of which broadcasts can be received in Suriname. Proof of first use or intent to use is not required for registration of a mark.
Nice classification, 9th edition (but only classes 1 to 34)
It is not possible to register for services in Suriname.
Registrable as a trademark are all distinctive and graphically representable signs, such as words, names, acronyms, letters, numbers, devices, colours or shades of colours, three-dimensional forms of a good or its packaging. Sound marks and smell marks are not registrable so far.
Collective marks are not registrable.
The application is filed at the “Bureau Intellectuele Eigendom”
Multiple class applications are possible.
Foreign applicants need a local agent.
A power of attorney is required. It is mandatory to submit an original power.
Foreign applicants do not need a domestic (primary) 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 is approximately 3 years.
Before registration the trademark is published in the “Advertentieblad van de Republiek Suriname” (Gazette for advertisements in Suriname).
National:
Art. 10, Royal Order from 1912 sets out: Within 9 months after publication in the Gazette, the trademark owner who claims ownership can submit a petition for invalidation of the registration.
A trademark is valid for 10 years from the date of registration. The registration is renewable for further periods of 10 years.
Practical details on grace periods for trademark renewals are available in our publication
herePractical details on trademark use requirements are available in our publication
hereThe costs of USD 30 includes filing an application in up to 3 classes. The moment the application has more than 3 classes, the IP office charges a fee of USD 7 per additional class. There are no publication and registration fees.
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Practical details on trademark licensing are available in our publication
hereOnline you can see a limited part of information about this country.
More in-depth details are available for the following aspects:
General Trademark Regulations
Trademark Use Requirements
Grace Period for Trademark Renewal
Trademark Licensing
If you like to purchase all available information for this country, click the order button.
The total price is
49.00 EUR. A PDF-Download will be sent to you electronically.
Sep 21, 2021
Schurman Advocaten, Paramaribo, Suriname