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Fiji: registration of trademarks
In order to register trademark in Fiji, it is necessary to submit an international application to the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), since Fiji is one of the participants to the Madrid Agreement.
The Madrid system is a centralized structure that is accountable to the WIPO. The main office is located in Geneva (Switzerland). The main advantage of this system for the owners of international business is the lack of need to register trademark in all countries (in 2017, it is 98 states) in the territory of which conducting activity is planned. One package of documents is submitted and one set of fees is paid.
Thus, if trademark is registered in Fiji, then the operation of the trademark will extend to all states applying the Madrid system. In case of changes in trademark, you will not need to notify the countries where your company has representative offices, as the update will take place automatically.
Procedure for submitting application and cost for registering a brand name in Fiji
Before registering trademark in Fiji, it is necessary to submit application for registration with the Office of origin, which will send the applicant's documents for obtaining international registration to the WIPO.
After the documents are sent to the WIPO, standard procedures for verifying the trademark begin (for uniqueness, for compliance with legislative norms, etc.). After the completion of verification, the data on trademark are entered in the international register, access to which is open on the official website of the WIPO. Further, the applicant and the state, in which territory the protection of the trademark is guaranteed, are notified regarding the successful registration.
If the trademark was not registered in Fiji on the first attempt, the WIPO would send a letter to the applicant describing the mistakes that had been committed and recommendations for their correction. The letter will indicate the time period during which it is necessary to solve the problems that have arisen.
After approval of the application, trademark protection is provided only in the state that was specified in the application. Trademark examination will take place within 12-18 months in the territory of other countries participating in the Madrid Agreement, which will determine whether new trademark will be protected in these states.
The decision on protection of the trademark is not always positive one, but the refusal in the department of one country does not mean the refusal in the department of another state. The WIPO shall notify applicants separately of each decision taken.
The protective mechanisms are valid for 10 years, after which it is necessary to renew the application.
The cost of registration depends on the classes of goods and/or services provided by the applicant's company. Each additional class is subject to new fee. Checks are paid by Swiss francs.
