DIY Trademark
As an alternative to us conducting a trademark registrability search for R2,500 (excl vat) and registering your trademark for R4,090 (excl vat), below is a DIY guide on how to file your own trademark for only $199:
- Classify your goods/service using our classification table.
- When you’ve satisfied yourself that your mark is registrable, register an account with open an account with GlobalIPCo.
- Complete the GlobalIPCo application form; sign & upload forms generated by GlobalIPCo; and pay $199 by credit card. Within a couple of days of filing, you will receive a trademark filing receipt by email.
- Should the CIPC trademark examiner have objections regarding the trademark application, you will receive an office action, to which you will need to respond within 3 months.
- Wait ±12 months for your trademark to be accepted, and instruct GlobalIPCo to arrange publication in the South African Trademarks Journal ($70). After publication, your trademark may be opposed for a period of 3 months. If opposed, this will need to be defended. If unopposed, your trademark will be registered and a certified copy of your granted trademark can be sent to you by courier ($110).
- Your trademark will be uploaded to the PayAnnuity renewal system, which will email renewal reminders to you in about 10 years’ time.
Step-by-Step Guide to Filing a South African Trademark Online Through GlobalIPCo
Step 2: Select – New Cases; South Africa; Trademark.
Step 3: Enter your reference (this can be anything you wish to call it), select the trademark type (Word Mark or Logo), enter the word mark / upload the logo image, and indicate whether the word mark is case sensitive (typically, word marks are not case sensitive).
Step 4: Enter the applicant’s / owners’s name and physical address (not a postal address). If you are a company, select “Legal Entity”, otherwise, select “Natural Person”.
Step 5: Enter priority details (if any). Priority may be claimed from a foreign trademark filed within the past 6 months.
Step 6: Select class(es). A separate South African trademark will be filed for each class selected.
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Step 7: Download the pre-populated Power of Attorney form for signature. Don’t make any changes to the form. Simply sign it and scan the signed form.
Step 8: Upload the signed Power of Attorney form.
Step 9: Pay $199 by credit card.
S&Z Patent Attorneys are the exclusive South African agents for GlobalIPCo. Their trademark attorneys will assist with responding to any office actions and dealing with any issues you may have.