Capital: Asmara
Population: 4 million
Major languages: Tigrinya, Tigre, Arabic, English
Major religions: Islam, Christianity
Form of government: One-party republic
Monetary unit: 1 Nakfa = 100 cents
Main exports: Livestock, hides, sorghum, textiles, salt, light manufactures
Internet domain: .er
Time zone: GMT+3
International dialling code: +291

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Trade Marks

International Arrangements:

None

Eritrea became independent from its southern neighbour Ethiopia on 24th May 1993. The government has been giving priority to such pressing problems as the establishment of viable Government machinery and the raising of development money, but official attention and resources have been diverted into a boundary conflict with Ethiopia.

A Commercial Register was established at an early stage, for the recordal of trade names and signs, displayed at business premises by duly licensed traders conducting trading activity in Eritrea. No provision is made for such recordals by non-Eritrean entities.

The enactment of an Industrial Property Law and establishment of a separate Industrial Property Office are still under consideration. Meanwhile, however, the Government, which for some years would not accept Cautionary Notices for publication in the Government-owned newspaper by trade mark proprietors, is now permitting their publication. Unlike the system in Ethiopia, the publication is not regulated by any government department and does not result in any official registration or certificate.

Nevertheless, the publication of a Cautionary Notice may be expected to assist the proprietor, in court proceedings against imitators, under Eritrean laws corresponding to the common-law doctrine of passing-off, or unfair competition under civil law systems.

There is no classification system and a single Cautionary Notice may include goods and/or services in any number of classes. A separate Cautionary Notice is required for each mark.

Requirements – First publication:

No documents are required. We only need at least one clear representation of the mark and usual details of proprietor and goods/services to be claimed.

Republication:

No fixed terms, we would recommend every 3 years

Assignments, mergers, changes of name or address:

Do not have to be published as they occur, but can be mentioned on republication.

Licences:

May be mentioned in first Cautionary Notices or on republication.

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Related News Articles

1) Circular No. 346: Africa Newsletter (Trade Marks)

2) Circular No. 357: Industrial Property Developments in Africa and Surrounding Islands

Patents

International arrangements:

• WIPO (from 20 February 1997)

Note: Patents filed in Ethiopia will have no force or effect in Eritrea.

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