trademark filing

Trademarks in Maldives

TRADEMARKS FILING AND PROSECUTION IN MALDIVES

A trademark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or services from those of other entities.

A trademark is typically a name, word, phrase, logo, symbol, design, image, or a combination of these elements. There is also a range of non-conventional trademarks comprising marks which do not fall into these standard categories, such as those based on color, smell, or sound.

Trademarks in Maldives are designated by the following symbols:

™ (for an unregistered trademark, that is, a mark used to promote or brand goods)

℠ (for an unregistered service mark, that is, a mark used to promote or brand services)

® (for a registered trademark)

The owner of a registered trademark may commence legal proceedings against trademark infringement of its mark.

Trademarks Filling
Relevant OfficeNo Administrative Body
Law in ForceNo Statutory Law
Nice ClassificationN/A
Paris ConventionN/A
Madrid ProtocolN/A
Multi – Class SystemN/A
          Registration ProcessTrademark protection in Maldives is by way of publication of a caution notice in Common Law under which a Trademark Caution Notice has to be filed in a leading Newspaper in Maldives.
  Cancellation Proceedings  N/A

Where can a Declaration of Ownership of Trademark for registration of trademark in Maldives be filed?

Registration of Deed, Yangon

Trademark Searches

A trademark search can be conducted in Maldives by enquiring with the Ministry  of Economic Development. Prior to publication of the mark in the local newspaper in Maldives, it is advisable to conduct a trademark search with the Maldives of Economic Development to ascertain the availability of deceptively similar trademarks, existence of prior identical/similar marks on the register etc.

Trademark searches in Maldives can be classified into following categories:

  • Word Search
  • Device Search

Trademark Applications in Maldives

At present, Maldives does not have any specific trademark law. Therefore, an application for registration of a mark cannot be filed. However, as a common practice, protection of a trademark is by way of publication of Trademark Cautionary Notice is local newspaper cautioning the general public and trade about the ownership of a trademark.

Paris Convention

The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, signed in Paris, France, on March 20, 1883, established a Union for the protection of industrial property. It offers national treatment to the applicant residing in the member country of the union, in other words. National treatment is a very important concept and is essential for successfully achieving the fundamental aim of the Paris Convention. The idea is to provide equal treatment to applications from member countries, in a given member country and not to differentiate between the nationals of member countries for the purpose of grant, and protection of industrial property.

Priority application can be filed in Maldives within 6 months of after the date on which the application was made in the Convention Countries. The trademark shall, if registered under the Act, will be registered as of the date as which the application was made in the Convention Country and that date shall be deemed for the purpose of the Act to be the date of registration.

Can foreign proprietors register their trademark in Maldives?

Yes, foreign proprietors can publish caution notice in local newspaper of Maldives.

Trademark Opposition

In the absence of trademark law, there is no procedure for initiating opposition proceedings against similar marks.

Trademark Registration and Renewal

In the absence of specific trademark law, protection of a trademark is by way of publication of Trademark Cautionary Notice in local newspaper.

Any person who claims to be the proprietor of the trademark can publish Trademark Cautionary Notice in local newspaper of Maldives cautioning the general public and trade about the ownership of the mark.

Trademark Duration

In the absence of trademark law in Maldives, there is no statutory term for which a trademark is registered. However, the common practice in Nepal is publish a Trademark Cautionary Notice after every 5 years.

The procedure for registration of a Trademark in Maldives is as follows:

Registration a Trademark in Maldives- In the absence of specific trademark law, protection of a trademark in Maldives is by way of  publication  of Trademark Cautionary Notice in local newspaper thereby cautioning the general public and trade about the ownership of the mark.

Official Examination of a Trademark in Maldives/ Issuance of Office Action – In the absence of trademark law in Maldives, a trademark is not official examined.

Publication / Advertisement of a Trademark – In the absence of a trademark law in Maldives, there is no provision for publication of a mark in Trademarks Journal.

Opposition of Published Trademark – In the absence of a trademark law, there is no provision for initiating opposition proceedings against a similar trademark.

Trademark Renewal

In the absence of trademark law, there is no statutory duration for registration of a trademark. However, the usual practice in is publication of Trademark Cautionary Notice in local newspaper after every 5 years.

There is no specific trademark law in Maldives.

For more information on Trademarks in Maldives please click here info@ssrana.com

Patents in Maldives

Trademark in Maldives FAQs

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Can a trade mark be removed from the Maldives trademark register because of it not being in use after registration?

There is no statutory trademarks law in Maldives. Therefore, there is no provision for removal of trademark because of non-use.

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Does the Maldives Trademark Act bestow protection to un- registered trademarks?

An action for passing off lies for infringement of an unregistered trademark.

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How the Symbols ® and TM are to be used in Maldives?

Only the proprietor of a registered trademark can use the Symbols ® in Maldives. Using the Symbols ® unless the mark has been registered is unlawful in Maldives. Using symbol TM with trademark simply means that one claims to be the proprietor of the trademark. There is no prohibition on the use of the symbol TM in Maldives.

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What are the benefits of a registered trademark in Maldives?

  • Identifies the origin of goods & services.
  • Advertises goods & services.
  • Enhances brand value.
  • Guards the commercial goodwill of a trader.
  • Protects the innocent public from buying goods of second-rate quality.
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What are the Qualities of a Good Trademark in Maldives

A good trademark should possess the following qualities-

  • Easy to pronounce, spell, remember.
  • Should be distinctive and should not have deceptive similarity.
  • Should not be descriptive.
  • Laudatory word/words such as best, perfect etc to be avoided.
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Maldives Trademarks Act

There is no specific trademark law in Maldives.

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How to Renew a Trademark in Maldives

In the absence of trademark law in Maldives, there is no statutory duration for registration of a trademark in Maldives. However, the usual practice in Maldives is publication of Trademark Cautionary Notice in local newspaper after every 5 years.

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Registration Procedure of a Trademark in Maldives

The procedure for registration of a Trademark in Maldives is as follows:

  1. Registration a Trademark in Maldives- In the absence of specific trademark law, protection of a trademark in Maldives is by way of  publication  of  Trademark Cautionary Notice in local newspaper thereby cautioning the general public and trade about the ownership of the mark.
  2. Official Examination of a Trademark in Maldives/ Issuance of Office Action – In the absence of trademark law in Maldives, a trademark is not official examined.
  3. Publication / Advertisement of a Trademark – In the absence of a trademark law in Maldives, there is no provision for publication of a mark in Trademarks Journal.
  4. Opposition of Published Trademark – In the absence of a trademark law in Maldives, there is no provision for initiating opposition proceedings against a similar trademark.
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Duration of registration of a Trademark in Maldives

In the absence of trademark law in Maldives, there is no statutory term for which a trademark is registered. However, the common practice in Nepal is publish a Trademark Cautionary Notice after every 5 years.

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Who Can File a Trademark Application in Maldives?

Any person who claims to be the proprietor of the trademark can publish Trademark Cautionary Notice in local newspaper of Maldives cautioning the general public and trade about the ownership of the mark.

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Procedure for Trademark Opposition in Maldives

In the absence of trademark law in Maldives, there is no procedure for initiating opposition proceedings against similar marks.

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Applicability of Paris Convention in Maldives

The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, signed in Paris, France, on March 20, 1883, established a Union for the protection of industrial property. It offers national treatment to the applicant residing in the member country of the union, in other words. National treatment is a very important concept and is essential for successfully achieving the fundamental aim of the Paris Convention. The idea is to provide equal treatment to applications from member countries, in a given member country and not to differentiate between the nationals of member countries for the purpose of grant, and protection of industrial property.

Priority application can be filed in Maldives within 6 months of after the date on which the application was made in the Convention Countries. The trademark shall, if registered under the Act, will be registered as of the date as which the application was made in the Convention Country and that date shall be deemed for the purpose of the Act to be the date of registration.

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Filing a Trademark Application in Maldives

At present, Maldives does not have any specific trademark law. Therefore, an application for registration of a mark cannot be filed in Maldives. However, as a common practice, protection of a trademark is by way of publication of Trademark Cautionary Notice is local newspaper cautioning the general public and trade about the ownership of a trademark.

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Trademarks Searches Classification in Maldives

Trademark searches in Maldives can be classified into following categories:

  1. Word Search
  2. Device Search
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Trademarks Searches in Maldives

A trademark search can be conducted in Maldives by enquiring with the Ministry  of Economic Development. Prior to publication of the mark in the local newspaper in Maldives, it is advisable to conduct a trademark search with the Maldives of Economic Development to ascertain the availability of deceptively similar trademarks, existence of prior identical/similar marks on the register etc.

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Trademark Procedural Details in Maldives

Trademark Procedural Details
Relevant Office No Administrative Body
Law in Force No Statutory Law
Nice Classification N/A
Paris Convention N/A
Madrid Protocol N/A
Multi – Class System N/A
Registration Process Trademark protection in Maldives is by way of publication of a caution notice in Common Law under which a Trademark Caution Notice has to be filed in a leading Newspaper in Maldives.
  Cancellation Proceedings   N/A
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Trademark Designation in Maldives

Trademarks in Maldives are designated by the following symbols:

™ (for an unregistered trademark, that is, a mark used to promote or brand goods)

℠ (for an unregistered service mark, that is, a mark used to promote or brand services)

® (for a registered trademark)

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Meaning of Trademark in Maldives

A trademark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or services from those of other entities.

For more information please contact us at : info@ssrana.com