What is a SANi combination trademark?
A SANi combination trademark secures a trademark in South Africa and a trademark in Nigeria. South Africa and Nigeria are the largest economies in sub-Saharan Africa and combining these countries covers a territory with a greater GDP and population than either the ARIPO or OAPI trademarks.
The SANi combination trademark is the best option for Africa.
| South Africa | Nigeria | |
| Time to grant | +- 2 years | +- 2 years |
| Multi-class trademarks | No. One class per trademark application | No. One class per trademark application |
| Type of registration certificate | Electronic | Paper |
Procedure
SANi combination trademarks are available through S&Z Patent Attorneys at a fixed cost.
Separate trademark applications are filed in South Africa and Nigeria, so a complication in one of the countries will not affect the other.
South African and Nigerian trademark law is relatively similar: only one class is permitted per trademark application; and the time from filing to grant is about 2 years.
During prosecution, responses to routine office actions (i.e. submitting outstanding documents; association of marks; disclaimer; admission; endorsing the meaning) are submitted at no additional cost.
Cost
| First SANi combination trademark application: | $435 |
| Additional SANi combination trademark application (additional class, same mark): | $410 |
SANi trademark pricing includes: professional fees, official fees, filing, responses to routine office actions, acceptance, publication, grant, issuance of the certificates and courier.
Additional cost will only be incurred if a trademark application is refused or opposed.
Good alternative options
| Countries | GDP | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANi | 2 | $860.70 bill. | 271.44 mill. |
| ARIPO | 13 | $209.52 bill. | 192.29 mill. |
| OAPI | 17 | 307.06 bill. | 212.46 mill. |
Whereas, an OAPI trademark covers the same countries as an OAPI patent (i.e. Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Comoros, the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger, Senegal and Togo), an ARIPO trademark only covers 13 of the 20 ARIPO member States (i.e. Botswana, Cape Verde, Kingdom of Eswatini, The Gambia, Kingdom of Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe).
How to file a SANi trademark
Send an email to info@snz.co.za, and Taya will assist you. S&Z – the largest filer of South African patents 2022, 2023, 2024.
[The SANi trademark is not the creation of a Treaty]