Designs and Models

– Intellectual Property Rights Law No. 82 of June 2, 2002, and Implementing Regulations of August 17, 2003.

Membership in International Conventions

– Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, Stockholm Act, since July 1, 1951.
– Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), since April 21, 1975.
– WTO’s TRIPS Agreement, since June 30, 1995.
– Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs, Geneva Act since August 27, 2004.

Filing

Applicant: same as for “patents“.

Foreigners and nationals not living in the country: same as for “patents“.

Kinds of designs and models: every arrangement of lines or every embodiment, with or without color, if it is distinctively novel and applicable to industrial use.

Not registrable: (1) if necessitated by the customary technical or functional considerations of the product; (2) if it includes slogans, religious symbols, seals or flags of Egypt or any foreign country or if consequences of such use result in breach of public order or morality; (3) if it is identical or similar to a registered or famous mark; (4) if it was disclosed to the public by means of a description or by use, prior to the filing of the application. 

Novelty: the Design Office examines the application according to the absolute novelty procedure.

Priorities: according to Paris Convention.

Exceptions to protection: none.

Series applications: not exceeding fifty provided they are of a homogeneous unit.

Territory covered: Egypt.

Filing requirements for an application (to be sent to resident agent):
1. Power of attorney, legalized up to an Egyptian Consulate;
2. Extract from the Commercial Register or a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, legalized up to an Egyptian Consulate;
3. A certified copy of the priority document for a Convention application in case it is claimed;
4. Deed of assignment (if any) legalized;
5. 4 representations (photographs or drawings) of the design without any references;
6. 1 copy of the design in which all references are shown;
7. If possible, a description of the design.

Note: all documents must be filed within six months from the filing date.

Electronic filing: not available. 

Electronic signatures: are not accepted (only wet signatures).

For a change of name or address:
1. Legalized power of attorney in the new name/address;
2. Official certificate attesting such a change of name or address, legalized up to an Egyptian Consulate.

Examination

Amendment of application: may be made at any time before examination. 

Alterations: may be made at any time before examination. 

Corrections: possible before examination. Note: any amendment, alteration or correction shall take place on the design in order to unify the same with the claimed priority. 

Examination: both formal and as to novelty. 

Application kept secret: until publication.

Opposition: available after publication in the Design Official Gazette within sixty days from the publication date. 

Publication: in the Model and Design Journal after acceptance.

Protection

Delivery of document: usually no later than six months from the date of filing in paper format.

Beginning of protection: from the date of filing.

Duration – extension: ten years; may be renewed once for a further period of five years.

Latest term for renewal: must be effected during the last year of the protection period. Grace period: three months.

Annuities: none.

Working: none.

Marking of registered goods: not provided for.

Changes in the list of goods: not applicable.

Assignment and licenses: same as for “patents“.

Modification of Protection after Registration

Rights of prior user: by court action.

Opposition to registered models and designs: by court action.

Annulment of registration: court action.

Compulsory licenses: provided for.

Expropriation: not provided for.

Nullification: court action.

Validation: not possible after nullification.

Infringements and penalties: same as for “trademarks“.