Trademark Law

Legal basis is the amended Trademarks Law of 1999 that shall be read in conjunction with the original Law No. 33 of 1952, as one law. The latest amendment of the Jordanian Trademark's Law dates 2008.

Trademark protection is obtained by registration. In cases of dispute, the right applies to the first use and not to the first Registration.

Classification

Nice classification, 11th edition

What is Registrable as a Trademark

Registrable as a trademark are all distinctive and graphically representable signs, such as words, names, acronyms, letters, numbers, devices, emblems, combinations or shades of colours and any combination of the mentioned signs.

The following trademark types are registrable: trademarks, service marks, collective marks, certification marks, trade names and titles of establishment.

Registration Proceedings

The application is filed at the Trademark Office.

According to Jordan Trademarks regulations, a separate application should be filed with respect to each class of goods.

Foreign applicants need a local agent.

A power of attorney authenticated by a Jordanian consulate is necessary.

Foreign applicants do not need a domestic registration.

The application process includes a formal and substantial examination, an examination of distinctiveness and a search for prior trademarks and trade names. In fact, they also search for domain names, well-known marks and whether the trademark complies with the trademark law. Signs not deemed distinctive in the examination can be registered if distinctiveness has been acquired by long-term use, or if there is a foreign registration obtained in a country following a substantial examination system.

The processing time from first filing to registration is approx. 14-15 months or first office action is approx. after 7-8 months.

Following the successful examination, the trademark application is accepted, then published in the Official Gazette.

Opposition Period

The opposition period is 3 months from publication of the trademark application. Foreign opposing parties need a local agent. An opposition against the registration of a trademark should be prosecuted before the Registrar by a lawyer within 3 months as of the date of publication.

The opposition case is referred to the Administrative Court and the High Administrative Court, if not settled before the Registrar, or if either party appeals the Registrar's decision. In the absence of an opposition, the relevant certificate of registration is issued.

Trademark Duration

A trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the date of application or from the priority date. The registration is renewable for periods of 10 years each.

Trademark Application Fees

The official fee for filing a trademark application is JOD 100 for one class and JOD 100 for each additional class. The publication fee is JOD 50 and the official registration fee is JOD 300.

Use for trademark registration

In Jordan, use is not required for trademark registration.

Use for trademark renewal

In Jordan, use is not required for trademark renewal.

Use in order to preserve rights in a trademark

In Jordan, a trademark is vulnerable to cancellation if the mark has not been used for a continuous period of at least three years after the date of paying the official registration fees immediately preceding the application for cancellation.

Non-use cancellation procedures are reviewed by the Registrar. The claimant is required to prove a legitimate interest in the cancellation of a trademark. The Registrar’s decision is subject to appeal before the High Court of Appeal as well as the High Court of Justice. Partial non-use cancellation is not available.

Burden of proof

In the event that a revocation action on the ground of non-use is instituted, the holder of the trademark has to file evidence of use. The Registrar shall permit the two parties to present their pleadings before he issues his decision on the cancellation application.

Nature and extent of use

Actual use of the mark or actual rendering of services in West Bank is required. Use must be continuous. It will not suffice to use a similar or a related trademark or a mark which is registered in a different class. Use by a licensee constitutes genuine use.

Means of demonstrating use

Proof of sales through invoices is required. The evidential material does not need to contain any dates or information.

Circumstances and time periods for excusable non-use

Failure to use a trademark for two years may be excused if the non-use is due to unfavourable commercial conditions and not to an intention not to use the mark or to abandon it in respect of the goods for which it is registered. There is no time period during which non-use is generally excused.

Further relevant aspects or legal provisions with regard to use of a trademark

None

Regular TM renewal time

A trademark may be renewed during 3 months preceding the expiry date.

Formal requirements for renewal

The renewal application and a Power of Attorney legalised by the Palestinian Representative of the owner, if the person renewing the mark is not the recorded address of service in the relevant file.

Publication of renewals

Yes.

Grace period for renewals

The grace period for renewals is 1 month from the date of receipt of a notice from the Registrar in this respect. After the lapse of the period fixed by the Registrar, renewals may be handled within 1 year from the publication of non-renewal upon payment of extra fees of USD 30 per mark.

Additional fees during grace period

The additional fee for renewals during the grace period is JOD 20 per mark.

Proceeding after expiry of grace period

After the expiry of the grace period, the non-renewal of a mark is published. The mark can still be renewed within 1 year upon payment of renewal fee and the extra fee.

Notification of owner/agent of pending cancellation due to non-payment

A notice for renewal is sent to the agent and in the case of failure to renew, this is published in the Official Gazette.

Restoration of lapsed TM

If the fee and the additional fee are paid within 1 year from the date of the expiry of the trademark, the mark may be restored if the Registrar is satisfied that it is just to do so and upon such conditions that he may impose.

Possibility of reregistration by 3rd parties after lapse

A lapsed trademark may be registered in the name of a third party after the elapse of 1 year from the date of the publication of the failure to renew the mark.

Trademark Licence Agreement

In Westbank a trademark licence agreement has to be in writing. Licensing of unregistered marks is not permissible. A trademark may be licensed for some or all of the goods/services in respect of which the trademark is registered. The sale of a registered trademark does not automatically terminate the licence. There are no statutory provisions prescribing the terms of a licence agreement.

Recordal

There are no provisions in law for the recordal of a licensee. The recordal of licence is voluntary. However a licence will not have any legal effect vis-à-vis third parties unless it is recorded.

Furthermore, there is no timeframe for a recordal. There is no prescribed form or content for the validity of a licence agreement, but it should be in writing.

The following documents are required for a recordal:

• A power of attorney from licensee and licensor
• A copy of the licence agreement

Effectiveness

The licence agreement becomes effective and enforceable against third parties upon the filing of the application at the Registrar. The licence is not required to be published.

Infringement Proceedings

There is no evidentiary presumption that use of a recorded licensee is permitted use. The licensee can join the trademark owner in infringement proceedings. However, the licensee can not call upon the owner to institute infringement proceedings and he can not institute proceedings in his own name if the proprietor refuses or neglects to do so. The licensee must cite the trademark owner as co-defendant in any such proceedings.