Trademark registration in Panama

Nowadays we face a market characterized by globalization and strong competition. In this situation, a trademark can be easily a target for possible abuses and illegal copy. In order to protect the intellectual property and the corporate image of a company is essential to guarantee total safety to the distinctive sign through a trademark action.

Trademark registration in Panama: why choosing Protectia?

• Experience and resources: in Protectia Patentes y Marcas we have the informatics tools necessary and a team of highly specialized professionals who will provide you support and free of charge advice service throughout all the process of registration, as for its renewal and monitoring.
• Trademark viability study in Panama: before starting any other action, the first important step is to make sure that the trademark you pretend to register does not present any previous rights or any other event. Thanks to sophisticated databases consultation and the expertise of our professionals, in Protectia we offer our clients a careful viability study of the trademark in order to guarantee the uniqueness of the distinctive sign they pretend to register, giving the opportunity to save money for the registration of a trademark which would hardly be granted.
• Trademark classification: Trademarks are registered related to concrete goods and services; in order to differentiate them, the Nice International classification is used which divides all the goods and services in 45 classes. In Protectia, among other services, is also contemplated the trademark classification, essential part of a proper registration.

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Trademark registration in Panama: the process

The process for a trademark registration in Panama usually goes through four main moments:

• Filing of the application
• Formal examination
• Publication and 2 months term for oppositions
• Granting

The registration of a trademark in Panama gives the holder its exclusive use for 10 years starting from the date of registration, renewable for a period of the same duration, whenever requested within the corresponding term and upon payment of the relative fees.

The average duration for a trademark process in Panama, including its granting from the moment of filing the application to the publication, is 10 months in case oppositions are not filed, whereas it is 12 months in case of oppositions. In Panama, trademark oppositions are filed and processed by civil courts, therefore it is not an administrative process but judicial.

Advices about the trademark registration in Panama

Usually, starting any type of business brings the inclination to focus the importance on advertising and marketing actions before to register the trademark, which may cause negative consequences. Therefore, the first action must be the trademark registration.

It is worth noting that for no-resident in Panama is necessary having a legal representative in order to file the application of a trademark, and also for residents it is highly recommended. Protectia has legal representative of full capacities to register a trademark in Panama, and to defend the interests of their clients before any action.