PATENTS
Registration Overview :
A patent for an invention is a grant by the government to an inventor for certain rights. A patent is granted by the Bahamian Government through the Intellectual Properties Section of the Registrar General’s Department. The right conferred by a patent excludes others from making, using or selling the invention.
Eligibility:
There are no eligibility criteria for this service.
Registration Process:
Complete relevant forms.
File the completed forms at the Intellectual Properties Section of the Registrar General’s Department.
Pay applicable fees.
Required Documents:
Completed application forms.
Two original sets of drawings (for medication or perfume, submit two original sets of formula).
Document containing the function, purpose and materials used in the makeup of the invention.(Specification, claims, abstract and drawings.)
Declaration by Inventors. Must be signed by each inventor and notarised.
Certified copy of Foreign Application if the Bahamian application is to rely on a priority claim. This must be in English.
Certified copy of the Assignment between inventors and applicant.
A priority document, if priority is to be claimed.
Power of Attorney, duly executed by the proprietor(s) in the presence of a Notary Public
Registration Time frame:
The entire process from the date of submission to obtaining the Letters of Patent could take up to one year.
Deadline
For clients claiming priority i.e. Patents that have been registered in another country and wishing to be registered in The Bahamas, the application must be filed within a year from the date of the first application in the first country.
TRADEMARKS
Trademark Registration Overview
A trademark is a work, symbol or picture or the combination used to distinguish the goods of a person or organisation from the goods of others in the market place. A registered trademark gives a proprietor exclusive rights to use the mark for the designated services of the mark. The Bahamas adheres to the old British classification of goods, therefore any goods that you wish protection for must conform to this system. In order to file a new Trade Mark Application, the Registrar General’s Office requires an original Form of Authorization. This is the form labeled as ‘Precedent Form of Authorization. Please be advised that one original form is required per application, per class. The form, once completed however, will require no legalization or notarization.
Trademark application requirements
Single-class filing system and Pre-1938 UK classificationsystemareused.
Service classes are not accepted. However, there is provision for this.
Power of Attorney simply signed by the applicant.
A separate signed power is required per application/class.
Trademark Registration timeline
The estimated time frame for Registration of a Trademark is 9 to 18 months and Renewal Certificate varies between 3 to 6 months
Eligibility:
There are no eligibility criteria for this service
Registration Proceedings:
Complete the relevant forms.
File the completed forms at the Intellectual Properties Section of the Registrar General’s Department.
Pay the applicable fees. The trademark application fees depend on the size of the logo and also on the amount of classes the applicant wishes the trademark to be registered in.
Deadline:
In the case of applicants wishing to claim priority having their trademark registered in another country, the trademark must be filed within a six month period.