Trademark registration in Belarus. Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. Belarus is a developing country ranking very high in the Human Development Index. It has been a member of the United Nations since its founding and a member of the CIS, the CSTO, the EAEU, and the Non-Aligned Movement. It has shown no aspirations for joining the European Union yet still maintains a bilateral relationship with the Union. Therefore, Belarus is a haven for businesses that want to expand their market here. To do that, understand the trademark registration procedures in Belarus and own a unique trademark in Belarus is the first key step when conducting business here.
Trademark registration procedures in Belarus
- After the completion of filing, the official notification of the receipt of the Application is issued within 3-4 months.
- Then the Belarus trademark application undergoes substantive examination for about 20 months. The grant decision is issued if the trademark reached the required conditions.
- After payment of the registration fee, the certificate of registration is issued within 3-4 months.
Note:
- The entire procedure of trademark registration in Belarus takes from 20 to 24 months.
- If the applicant is foreign, they must be represented before the Office by a registered Belarus trademark attorney.
Necessary documents for trademark registration in Belarus
- Name and address of the applicant;
- Prints of the trademark;
- List of goods and/or services under the international classification;
- Certified copy of priority document if priority is to be claimed (may be filed to the Belarus Trademark Office within three months from the filing date);
The opposition of trademark registration in Belarus
The opposition period against trademark applications in Belarus is not stipulated. Nevertheless, an informational letter can be filed to the Trademark Office within the whole examination period to draw the examiner’s attention to non-compliance of the applied mark with protectability requirements.
The cancellation of trademark registration in Belarus
- Cancellation based on relative grounds may be filed to the Appeal Board within 5 years from publication;
- Cancellation based on absolute grounds may be filed to the Appeal Board within the entire period of validity of the trademark;
- Cancellation based on non-use may be filed to Court.
Trademark validity and renewal in Belarus
A trademark in Belarus is valid for 10 years from the filing date and can be further renewed every 10 years. In Belarus, it is possible to apply for a trademark renewal within 12 months before the end of the validity period. There is also a 6-month grace period that allows applying for a renewal after the end of the validity period upon payment of a stipulated fine.
Note: Reinstatement of a lapsed trademark (after the expiration of a grace period) is not possible.
Required documents for a renewal of trademark registration in Belarus:
- Signed and stamped original of a Power of Attorney.
- Original trademark certificate (not obligatory).
You can find a list of Belarus IP firms here.