Trademark Business Name in South Africa
Register SA trademark online
To protect your business name in South Africa you should register a South African trademark – patents and copyright are not relevant.
To file a trademark for a business name online is simple, takes 5 minutes and costs only US$80:
- conduct a free identical trademark search – see our trademark search tips;
- register with GlobalIPCo’s online SA trademark registration system;
- input your mark / logo;
- add the applicant (i.e. owner) details;
- select trademark classes (e.g. retail is in class 35, clothing is in class 25);
- sign the Power of Attorney giving S&Z Patent Attorneys authority to file your trademark in your name with CIPC (the South African trademarks office); and
- pay $80 by credit card.
Your business name trademark will immediately be filed with CIPC, and you will receive a trademark application number within a business day.
In about 9 months, you may receive an examination report from the South African trademarks office. You can request our opinion regarding how to respond to the report, and we will gladly reply to the report for you. Your South African trademark should be accepted 15-20 months of filing. We will arrange publication, and anyone may during the next 3 months apply to oppose your trademark. Within 2-3 years of filing, you should receive your South African trademark registration certificate. However, you need not wait until then to use your business name.
As an alternative to using GlobalIPCo, you may file South African trademarks online using TM Direct – an online trademark filing system operated by S&Z Trademark Attorneys.
Start using your business name right after filing the South African trademark application.
Help from a SA Trademark Attorney
Should you prefer that your South African trademark is prepared and filed by a South African trademark attorney, Taya, our trademark attorney would be glad to assist. Our charges to: conduct a trademark registrability search is R2,500 plus vat; and prepare and file a South African trademark application is R4,090 plus vat (inclusive of official fees).