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SIERRA
LEONE |
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Patent and Design Registrations
TRADEMARK INFORMATION
1. Filing requirements
1.1 Full name, street address and description of the applicant
(including trading style, if any, and state/country of incorporation,
if incorporated).
1.2 List of goods.
1.3 A simply signed power of attorney.
1.4 6 prints of the mark.
1.5 A certified copy of the British registration if the mark relates
to cotton goods falling in classes 23, 24 and 25.
2. Classification
2.1 The 50 classes corresponding to the old British classification of goods are followed.
3. General
3.1 Duration : 7 years from date of application and renewable
for further periods of 14 years.
3.2 Use : If a registered trade mark has not been used for a continuous
period of 5 years, it may be expunged.
3.3 Marking : Not required, but advised.
3.4 Licenses : permitted.
3.5 Assignments : Applications permitted, but only with the goodwill
of the business concerned.
4. Costs
4.1 Application: First trade mark/class $2270.00, additional
classes filed simultaneously $2160.00 each.
4.2 Assignment: First trade mark/class $1220.00, additional trade marks/classes
filed simultaneously $710.00 each.
4.3 Preparation of documents: $130.00.
4.4 Recordal of change of name or address: First trade mark/class $780.00,
additional trade marks/classes filed simultaneously $51000 each.
4.5 Renewal: First class $1460.00, additional classes renewed simultaneously
$1280.00 each.
4.6 Searches: From $680.00
PATENT AND DESIGN REGISTRATIONS
In our experience, it is better to file an ARIPO regional application designating at least Sierra Leone rather than a national application direcly in Sierra Leone. The main reason for our opinion is that ARIPO is run by WIPO and, accordingly, operates much more efficiently than the Sierra Leone Patent and Design Offices. Furthermore, the cost of filing an ARIPO application designating only Sierra Leone is about the same as the cost of filing a national application directly in Sierra Leone. A further benefit of the ARIPO route is that it is possible to designate other ARIPO member countries by paying additional designation fees at a relatively nominal surcharge.
For more information on ARIPO patents click here.
For more information on ARIPO designs click here.