Suriname Trademark Information

Suriname or Surinam, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America. Suriname is situated between French Guiana to the east and Guyana to the west. The southern border is shared with Brazil and the northern border is the Atlantic coast. The population is estimated at 500050 with a GDP of $4.510 billion.

First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and then settled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government - a four-party New Front coalition - returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since; the coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005.

Trademarks are assigned through the Bureau Intellectual Property, Ministry of Justice and Police. Suriname 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.