Trademark registration is a long, sometimes exhausting
process that requires no small amount of patience. The examination
stage of a trademark application, which determines if it will be
rejected or progress toward registration, involves specific
procedures that must be followed to the letter.
Most countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan
(MENAP) region examine trademark applications by considering
absolute and relative grounds for refusal. It is critical for
would-be trademark registrants to understand these principles to
minimize the risk of a rejected application.
An overview of absolute and relative grounds
Absolute grounds for refusal are fairly straightforward. These
often include:
