The Trademark Office in Saudi Arabia recently announced that the definition of a trademark has been broadened and now allows the registration of surnames as marks.

The TMO will assess several aspects when examining the trademark application, including but not limited to:

  • If the surname complies with the conditions and formal registration requirements related to trademarks;
  • If the mark is the surname of the applicant;
  • If the surname has been in commercial use for a time period that is not less than 10 years;
  • If the surname has achieved fame through wide use in advertisements;
  • If the surname is considered a component of the mark and not the mark itself.

Trademark Protection Framework in Saudi Arabia:

  • Classification: 10th edition – single class application. Class 33, alcoholic goods in class 32, pork meat in class 29, and Christmas trees and related products in class 28 cannot be registered
  • Examination: On formal, absolute, and relative grounds
  • Opposition: 60 days from publication date
  • Protection Term: 10 Hijri years (approximately 9 years and 8 months) from filing date and renewable for like periods
  • Use: Vulnerable to cancellation if mark has not been used for 5 years from filing
  • Filing Requirements: POA, legalized and copy of priority document, if priority is claimed, certified. A scanned colored copy of both the POA and priority document must be submitted at the time of filing. The original copies may be submitted within 3 months from filing date

Should you have any questions, or require any additional information, please contact us at news@sabaip.com