Trademark registration in Mozambique

The trademark office and official links

Trademarks in Mozambique are registered by the Industrial Property Institute (Instituto da Propriedade Industrial) (IPI).

• Trademark office: Industrial Property Institute (Instituto da Propriedade Industrial) (IPI)
• Law: Industrial Property Code, approved by Decree No. 47/2015 of 31 December 2015 (in force 31 March 2016)
• Law: Ministerial Order No. 39/2017 of 15 May 2017 approving the Table of Fees of the Industrial Property Institute
• Law: Decree No. 19/99 of 4 May 1999 approving the Regulation of Official Agents of Industrial Property

Official fees in Mozambique

Official office fees only (schedule as of 2017-05). Official fee schedule. Professional fees of a local firm are extra — compare fixed-fee packages.

How to register a trademark in Mozambique

1. Search for identical or similar marks that are registered or pending before filing.
2. Prepare a separate application for each class identifying the owner, showing the mark and listing the goods or services, using the IPI application form.
3. Submit the application to the IPI in Maputo, in person or through an official industrial property agent; a power of attorney or other missing documents can be filed within 30 days.
4. The IPI carries out a formal examination and publishes the application in the monthly Industrial Property Bulletin (Boletim da Propriedade Industrial).
5. Third parties may oppose within 30 days of publication (extendable once, by up to 60 days).
6. The IPI then examines the application on substance and, if there are no grounds for refusal, issues the registration certificate.

Examination, publication and opposition

• Examination: Formal examination before publication, followed by substantive examination (including conflicts with earlier marks for identical or similar goods and services) after the opposition period; no official time frame found.
• Publication: Industrial Property Bulletin (Boletim da Propriedade Industrial), published monthly since the 2015 Code.
• Opposition period: 30 days from publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin, extendable once by up to 60 days on request (secondary sources; the 2015 Code cut the period from 60 to 30 days).

Protection, renewal and use

• Term: 10 years from the filing date, renewable.
• Late renewal: 6 months after expiry, with a surcharge; renewal fees can be paid in the 6 months before expiry (secondary source).

Filing from abroad

• Local agent: Acts before the IPI may be carried out personally by the applicant or by a representative qualified as an official industrial property agent. Whether non-residents must use an agent was not confirmed.
• Power of attorney: Secondary sources state that pending documents such as a power of attorney may be submitted within 30 days of filing under the 2015 Code. Notarisation or legalisation requirements were not verified.
• Language: Portuguese (the official language; the Portuguese text of the Industrial Property Code prevails over translations).

Firms on TrademarksHub that cover Mozambique can act as your local agent — see firms.

Madrid Protocol

Mozambique is a member of the Madrid System (in force since 1998). You can designate it in an international application filed through your home office, or file a national application directly. A local firm can advise which route is cheaper for your classes and timeline.

Trademark classes

Nice Classification (45 classes); Mozambique has been party to the Nice Agreement since 18 January 2002. One class per application.. Each application covers one class, so file one application per class. Not sure which classes you need? See all 45 classes or classes by business type.

How Mozambique compares

• Opposition: 30 days from publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin, extendable once by up to 60 days on request (secondary sources; the 2015 Code cut the period from 60 to 30 days). — compare all countries
• Renewal: every 10 years; grace period 6 months after expiry, with a surcharge; renewal fees can be paid in the 6 months before expiry (secondary source). — compare all countries
• Foreign owners: see the rules — rules in every country

Guides: registering in any country · costs by country · Madrid

Good to know in Mozambique

• Mozambique is party to both the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol (in force since 7 October 1998).
• Mozambique is also bound by ARIPO's Banjul Protocol on Marks since 5 August 2020, so it can be designated in ARIPO regional trademark applications.
• The opposition period is only 30 days from publication, shortened from 60 days by the 2015 Industrial Property Code.
• Each class needs a separate application.
• Registering a company or trade name does not protect a trademark; a separate trademark application must be filed with the IPI.

Questions