Step to Step Registration of Trademark

Step to Step Registration of Trademark

Step 1: Availability Search – The first step required to be taken for any person or organization desiring to register a trademark is to brief an Agent, usually a lawyer with the trademark or the description of a symbol or logo or design to be registered.

A search is conducted on the trademark, and if it is not in conflict or too similar with any existing trademark, an application for the registration can proceed.

Step 2: Trademark Application – Whereupon an application has been approved after a successful search has been conducted, the Registry will accept, register the trademark and issue an Acceptance Letter to the applicant. The Acceptance Letter is initial evidence that the trademark has been duly registered.

If the application is filed by an online accredited agent, filing the trademark application could take a matter of minutes. Typically, the trademark agent will need the name of the mark, applicant's name and address, logo (if any), and a completed Form 1 (Power of Attorney) authorizing the agent to file the application on behalf of the trademark owner.

Step 3: Verification or Examination Office– Between 2 to 6 months from the date of the application, the status of the trademark application should read "...the application is at the Verification Office". What this means is that the Trademark Registry in Abuja will review the application and issue either an Acceptance Form or a Refusal Slip. The accredited agent will have the option of downloading and printing the forms issued by the Registry in response to the application.

If an Acceptance Form is issued, the trademark application status will be updated to read "...currently at the Opposition Office". If the trademark application is not successful, the registry will issue a refusal slip and the online status will read "...currently at the Acceptance Office".

Step 4: Advertisement or Publication – Upon the acceptance of the registration of a trademark, the Registrar will ensure the notice of the application is published in the Trademark Journal. Such notification will include the full details of the application and the applicant.