Discover the risks and dangers of failing to register a trademark to understand the value and importance of trademark registration for your brand.
The Risks of Not Registering a Trademark
Kenya Trademark Registration
Protect Your Brand in Kenya Through a Simple Process Backed by Certified Local Attorneys
Simple steps to register your trademark
STEP 1
Comprehensive Trademark Study
Before filing your trademark in Kenya, you must evaluate any issues that may arise during the registration process. Our Comprehensive Trademark Study not only lists similar trademarks (graphic and phonetic) that may conflict with yours but also provides you with an Attorney's opinion on the trademark registration possibilities and the class(es) that your goods/services belong to.
- Graphic and phonetic similarity trademark search report
- Trademark attorney's analysis and advice
- Trademark class recommendation
STEP 2
Trademark Application Filing
Specialized attorneys will file your trademark application in Kenya and carry out all the necessary formalities to bring your application for approval and registration. As soon as your trademark is filed, we will send you a filing report that will include the application number and application date. Also, we will send you a scanned copy of the filed application.
- Process Handled by Experienced Trademark Attorneys
- Filing the Report & a Scanned Copy of the application
- Tracking the Registration Process Online
Additional Services in Kenya
Discover how our services help protect and strengthen your brand in Kenya.
Trademark Search
Check if your trademark is available for registration with our easy-to-use search tool.
Search TrademarkTrademark Renewal
Renew your trademark to maintain uninterrupted protection for your brand.
Renew TrademarkDomain Registration
Safeguard your local domain with ease through our trusted partner, Register.Domains.
Search .KE DomainsFrom our Blog
National vs. International Trademark Registration
Discover how national and international trademark registration compare, the pros and cons of each, and which is right for you.
Commonly Asked Questions About Trademark Registration
Learn answers to some of the most commonly asked questions on trademark registrations to improve your trademark knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I register my trademark in Kenya, will it be protected in other countries?
Registering your trademark in Kenya only provides protection within Kenya's borders.
What actions are necessary to meet the usage requirement for a trademark?
To satisfy the use requirement, a trademark must be actively used in commerce within five years of its registration date, and this use must take place in Kenya.
Does registering a trademark in Kenya provide me with any legal rights?
You don't need to register a trademark to have rights to it. Simply using the trademark first can establish your ownership. In Kenya, the "first to use" rule applies.
What are the reasons for which a registration can be canceled?
Registration can be canceled for the following reasons:
- Bad faith
- Incorrect representation of the mark
- Lack of distinctiveness
- Generic nature of the mark
- Descriptive nature of the mark
- Misleading, disparaging, or deceptive nature
- Contains a geographical indication
- Prohibited in this jurisdiction
- Contrary to public policy or morality
What is the typical duration for trademark registration approval?
The typical time it takes to get a trademark registered is about 14 months, as long as there are no objections or challenges.
Can you claim priority for a patent application in Kenya?
You can claim a priority application in Kenya if:
- Your home country is part of the Paris Convention.
- Your original application was submitted no more than six months before the filing date in Kenya.
- International registrations include Kenya as a designated country.
Certainly! Here's a rewritten version of the question: "Is it necessary for me to sign a Power of Attorney?"
Yes, having a power of attorney is important.
What are the steps involved in the trademark application process in Kenya after filing?
The application process follows these steps:
Who is eligible to challenge my trademark application?
The application can be contested by:
- any party with a vested interest
- the holder of a prior right
What rights do you gain by registering a trademark?
Registering a trademark grants the following rights:
- exclusive use of the trademark
- ability to license the trademark to others
- right to oppose later conflicting trademark applications
- right to request cancellation of later conflicting registrations
- right to request customs to seize counterfeit goods
- right to claim damages or compensation for trademark infringement
- right to seek injunctions to stop infringement
- right to sue for infringement if others use a confusingly similar mark
How long is a trademark valid once it has been registered?
The trademark registration is valid for 10 years starting from the date you apply.
Do I need to use my trademark before applying for registration?
Yes, you need to either intend to use or actually use the trademark when applying.
- Actual use is not mandatory for the application.
- Intent to use is necessary for the application.
What is the duration of the opposition period?
The opposition period starts on the day the Industrial Property Journal is published.
The opposition period concludes 60 days following the publication date of the Industrial Property Journal.
Still have questions?