1、 Notice on Trademark Application and Registration for Rwanda

1. The relevant laws for trademark protection in Rwanda include the Trademark Law of February 1963, the Implementing Regulations of May 1965, and the government decree that came into effect in May 1967.

2. The first public user can apply for registration at any time, but only after applying for registration can they claim the exclusive right to use the trademark.

3. Rwanda adopts international classification, dividing goods into 34 major categories. There is no provision for service trademarks, but trademark registration applications that include both goods and services can be accepted.

2、 Required documents for trademark application in Rwanda

1. Apply as a legal entity, with one copy of the Business License or valid registration certificate stamped with the official seal; Apply as a natural person with one copy of personal identification document attached;

2. The applicant's detailed information (in both Chinese and English), including name or title, nature, nationality, as well as detailed address, postal code, and contact information;

3. Trademark design;

4. Product name and category;

5. Sign a trademark authorization letter (notarized and authenticated);

3、 Rwanda trademark registration and application procedures:

1. Applicant Qualifications:

Both natural persons and legal entities can apply for trademark registration on goods and services.

2. Application process (smooth progress):

(1) Formal examination: the legality examination of the submitted application documents, trademark designs, power of attorney and other documents after the application is submitted; Those who meet the requirements will be granted the application date and application number.

(2) Search report: The Internal Cooperation Bureau shall conduct a search and issue a search report on the previously registered or applied Rwandan trademark, and issue a search report. The applicant will receive the above-mentioned search report before the trademark is approved for publication and decide whether to arrange for trademark publication.

(3) Substantive examination: When the Internal Cooperation Office reviews a trademark application from Rwanda, it only examines its registrability (i.e. distinctiveness), also known as absolute reasons, without examining relative reasons, that is, without citing prior rights to reject the application.

(4) Rwanda Trademark Announcement: After examination, the examiner believes that the trademark application can be accepted and will publish the announcement on the official trademark announcement in Tunisia. The objection period is 3 months from the date of announcement.

(5) Registration approval: Trademarks that have been ruled to be eligible for registration after opposition, or trademarks that have been published without opposition, will be approved for registration and a registration certificate will be issued. The entire smooth application process (if there are no rejections, objections, etc.) will take approximately 10-18 months.

3. Rwanda trademark validity period: indefinite