Egypt Trademark Information

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is located in North Africa and forms a bridge to the Middle East/Asia via the Sinai Peninsula with coastline on the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea. The population is estimated at 78,740,000 with a GDP of $469.67 billion.

The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty with the overthrow of the British-backed monarchy in 1952. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to meet the demands of Egypt's growing population through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

Trademarks are assigned through the Commercial Registry under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Egypt is a member of the Madrid Protocol. A trademark is valid for 10 years and may be extended for periods of 10 years.

The following shall not be registered as trademark or an element thereof:

• Marks devoid of any distinctive characteristic or formed of signs or data, which are merely nomenclatures given by the established usage of the products, drawings, or the natural figures thereto;
• Marks that contravene public order or morals;
• General emblems, flags and other symbols of the State or other States, regional or international organizations, as well as any imitation therefor;
• Marks that are identical or similar to symbols of pure religious nature;
• Red cross or red crescent symbols or other similar symbols; as well as marks that are imitation thereto;
• Photographs or emblems of third parties, unless with prior consent therefrom;
• Information regarding degrees of honor, which the applicant for registration does not prove its being conferred thereupon; and
• Marks and geographical indications that may mislead public, or cause confusion thereto, or that include untrue information about the source or other characteristics of the products, either products or services; as well as marks that include data about imaginary, imitated or counterfeit trade name.