Belize Trademark Information

Belize is a democratic constitutional monarchy, and the northernmost Central American nation. Belize is bordered by Mexico to its north, by Guatemala to its south and west, and by the Caribbean Sea to the east. The population is estimated at 333200 with a GDP of $2.575 billion.

Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992 and the two countries are involved in an ongoing border dispute. Guatemala and Belize are gearing up for a simultaneous referendum to determine if this dispute will go before the International Court of Justice at The Hague. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, high crime rates, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.

Trademarks are assigned through the Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO). Belize is not a member of the Madrid Protocol. A trademark is valid for 10 years and may be renewed for further periods of 10 years each.