Designs

Designs

An industrial design is the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. The design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color.

Industrial designs are applied to a wide variety of products of industry and handicraft: from technical and medical instruments to watches, jewelry, and other luxury items; from housewares and electrical appliances to vehicles and architectural structures; from textile designs to leisure goods.

To be protected under most national laws, an industrial design must appeal to the eye. This means that an industrial design is primarily of an aesthetic nature, and does not protect any technical features of the article to which it is applied.

If you want to know more about Designs please click or enter the following URL in your browser:

http://www.wipo.int/designs/en/designs.html

Design Registration

Filing & Requirements

Once a design or industrial model application is filed, the design is examined as to its registrability. Should the design lack any requirement as provided for in the law and its regulations, the examiner will reject the application.

Requirements

1. A Power of Attorney legalized up to the Egyptian Consulate.
2. Four representations (photographs or drawings) of the design or model on good quality paper of size 33×21 cm
3. A legalized extract of the entry of the applicant company in the Commercial Register, or a legalized copy of the certificate of incorporation; which includes the name, address, nationality, legal status and profession or nature of business of the applicant.
4. A certified copy of the priority document for a convention application. All documents must be available within three months from the filing date.

Publication

Design applications approved by the Registrar are published in the Official Gazette. There is a two-month period from the date of publication during which any interested party may file an opposition notice. An opposition to the registration of a published trademark should be prosecuted by either a patent attorney or an applicant before the Registrar. The opposition case is referred to the competent tribunal if not settled by the Registrar or if either party objects to the decision issued by the Registrar.

Registration

In the absence of opposition, a published design is registered, and the relative certificate is issued.

Appeal

An applicant is entitled to appeal the requirements and conditions of the Trade Marks Office by means of submitting a petition to the competent committee within thirty days as from the receipt of the notice, served to him by the Trade Marks Office.

Requirements

Only, Power of Attorney legalized up to the Egyptian Consulate, if we do not previously possess one.

Novelty

A registration is effective with novelty examination.

The provisions of the Designs Law in Egypt stipulate that an application should be filed before the design has become known prior to the filing date or the priority date through publication or use worldwide. The Trade Marks Office currently receives many published designs worldwide and stipulates absolute novelty when examining the design.

International Classification

Designs and industrial models are protectable in Egypt through registration with the competent office. The international Classification of Designs is effective in Egypt.

Period of Protection

A design registration is valid for ten years from the date of filing the design application.

Use of design

Use of designs in Egypt is not compulsory for filing applications for registration or for maintaining design registrations in force. However, a design registration is subject to cancellation in the event any interested party requests such a cancellation before the competent tribunal, on the grounds that the subject design or industrial model was not novel at the time of filing the relevant application. The registration, assignment and cancellation of design and industrial model registrations are published in the Official Gazette and entered in the register.

If you wish to file an application for design we are please to assist you in filing it and will carry out all needed tasks before the Egyptian Trademark Office in order to obtain the registration approval.

Design Renewal

A design registration can be renewed once for further five years. The Trademark Office serves a written notice to the registered owner of a trademark at his address as indicated in the register. The notice, which is served during the month following the expiry of the validity term, indicates the date on which the renewal fees should have been paid and calls for payment during the grace period. If the registrant fails to apply for renewal during the six months following the expiry of the stipulated protection period, the Trademark Office will ex officio cancel such registration, which will eventually be removed from the register.

Requirements

Only, Power of Attorney legalized up to the Egyptian Consulate, if we do not previously possess one.

Design Assignment

The assignment of a design should be recorded, and unless it is published in the Official Gazette and entered in the records of the Trademark Office, an assignment shall not be effective vis-à-vis third parties. The assignment of a design must not necessarily be submitted with the establishment of the business concern. Changes in the name and/or address of a registrant must be recorded.

Requirements

1. A Power of Attorney signed by the assignee and legalized up to the Egyptian Consulate. (To be submitted at the time of filing the application)
2. An extract of the entry of the assignee company in the commercial register, or a certified copy of the certificate of incorporation legalized up to the Egyptian Consulate
3. A legalized deed of assignment duly singed by both parties and legalized up to the Egyptian Consulate
4. Name, address, nationality, legal status and profession or nature of business of the assignee

Note: In addition to the above, for design applications, the applicant company must submit an extract from the Commercial Register or the certificate of incorporation, legalized up to the Egyptian Consulate.