Trademarks
- North & South America
Jamaica Trademark Registration
Overview of Jamaican Trademarks
1. Jamaica is one of the island countries in the Caribbean region of the Americas and the third largest island in the Caribbean. Jamaica's main resources are bauxite, and other abundant resources include copper, iron, lead, zinc, and gypsum. The forest area is 265000 hectares. The tourism industry, mining, agriculture, and emerging information technology service industry are the pillars of the Jamaican national economy. The service industry, with tourism as its core, accounts for over 60% of the country's GDP. Affected by the COVID-19, the tourism industry of the dental pillar industry suffered a heavy blow, the export income of bauxite decreased significantly, and overseas remittances decreased significantly.
2. The current trademark laws in Jamaica include Trademark Law No. 32 promulgated in 1957, which came into effect on December 1, 1958, and the Implementing Regulations of the Trademark Law promulgated in 1958.
3. The acquisition of trademark rights in Jamaica is based on the principle of prior use, and the official language is English.
4. Jamaica only provides registration protection for commodity trademarks, and the classification of commodity trademark applications is the same as the International Classification of Goods used for trademark registration, which is divided into 34 categories. Accept applications with multiple categories.
5. It should be noted that the coat of arms, insignia, and similar graphics or flags of the British Royal or Empire, as well as the use of words, letters, or graphics such as "Royal", "Imperial", or the like, that are easily misleading, may lead to the misconception that the applicant is under royal protection or authorized by the Royal Family; Markings such as the word "ANZAC" or emblem, Jamaican or West Indian flags, etc. shall not appear on the trademark being registered.
2. The current trademark laws in Jamaica include Trademark Law No. 32 promulgated in 1957, which came into effect on December 1, 1958, and the Implementing Regulations of the Trademark Law promulgated in 1958.
3. The acquisition of trademark rights in Jamaica is based on the principle of prior use, and the official language is English.
4. Jamaica only provides registration protection for commodity trademarks, and the classification of commodity trademark applications is the same as the International Classification of Goods used for trademark registration, which is divided into 34 categories. Accept applications with multiple categories.
5. It should be noted that the coat of arms, insignia, and similar graphics or flags of the British Royal or Empire, as well as the use of words, letters, or graphics such as "Royal", "Imperial", or the like, that are easily misleading, may lead to the misconception that the applicant is under royal protection or authorized by the Royal Family; Markings such as the word "ANZAC" or emblem, Jamaican or West Indian flags, etc. shall not appear on the trademark being registered.
Application
Due to Jamaica's non accession to the Madrid Agreement or Madrid Protocol, it can only be obtained through "single country registration".
Validity period and renewal
The exclusive right to use a Jamaican trademark is valid for 10 years from the date of application, and can be renewed within 6 months before expiration. After renewal, the validity period is also 10 years.
Required documents
1. Applicant's name and address.
2. Categories and names of goods/services that require protection.
3. Trademark design.
4. Sign the power of attorney.
Application process
The main process for applying for registration of a trademark in Jamaica is: application, acceptance, examination, announcement, approval, and issuance of a certificate
If the whole process goes smoothly, it will take about 12 to 15 months.
