Trademark registration Cyprus

The rights to a trademark in Cyprus are granted to the person who uses it first in Cypriot territory. Although it is not mandatory to register a trademark in Cyprus, practice shows that this is indeed advisable in order to clearly prove ownership with it. This way you prevent future conflicts in this regard. The use of a trademark prior to its registration is not mandatory, but it does help you to stand stronger with regard to the criterion of distinction. To register a trademark in Cyprus, turn to the DRCOR.

If you want to register a combined trademark in Cyprus, you should keep in mind that the exclusive rights you acquire with it only apply to the specific combination of elements. In other words: if you file a combined trademark and it consists of a word and a symbol, only this combination is protected. There is no separate protection for the individual elements.

Do you also want to be able to use a word element and / or logo separately without third parties being able to infringe it? Then it is important to register both separately. If you do not do this, other entrepreneurs can also use these separate elements for their product or service. You can only object if this product or service is the same or very similar to yours. You then lodge your objection on the basis of confusing resemblance.

Before applying for a trademark in Cyprus, it is important to check whether it already exists. If this is the case, the DRCOR will reject your application. To check the possible existence of identical or very similar brands, you use various databases. For example, you can consult the Cypriot Online Registry of National Trademarks, which lists registered and pending trademarks, but the official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus is also a useful resource. You can also use the TMView of the EUIPO, as well as the Global Brand Database and the Madrid Monitor of the WIPO.

The EUIPO is the European Trademark Office, through which European intellectual property registrations of all 27 countries of the European Union are established. Cyprus is a member of the European Union. Cyprus is also a member of the Madrid Protocol, in which agreements have been made to facilitate international trademark registration worldwide. WIPO is responsible for this.

After you have performed an availability check, you can proceed to submit your application in the Republic of Cyprus. Applications can be sent by post or via the electronic system of the DRCOR. It is possible to apply for a trademark registration with several classes on the same form. You must use the Nice classification. After assessing your application, an expert will carry out a design investigation.
If your application is approved in this first phase, you will receive a confirmation and a registration number. Then follows the formal, substantive investigation. During this phase, it is investigated whether your application meets the legal requirements. If so, publication in the Intellectual and Industrial Property Section of the official gazette will take place. Only then can third parties possibly object to your application. They have three months to do this. You will not automatically receive a paper copy of your registration; you must request this separately. There are costs involved.