The Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) of Namibia has announced an automation initiative whereby Madrid Protocol applications designating Namibia will receive Statements of Grant as prescribed by Section 200 (11) of the Industrial Property Act 1 of 2012. This imminent change is expected to improve the efficiency and predictability of the trade mark registration process, positioning Namibia as an attractive jurisdiction for international trade mark protection.

Only newly filed Madrid Protocol applications that designate Namibia will automatically receive a Statement of Grant following the expiration of the statutory opposition period, provided no objections have been raised.

Addressing Legacy Applications

For Madrid applications submitted before the implementation of this automated system, BIPA has requested that stakeholders provide additional supporting documentation to enable the issuance of Statements of Grant. Since these applications fall outside the scope of the automated workflow, the submission of supporting documents is an important step toward compliance and formal recognition within Namibia.

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Ensuring Enforceability and Compliance

Namibia’s adoption of automated Statements of Grant issuance signifies BIPA’s commitment to the Madrid Protocol and facilitating a reliable environment for protecting intellectual property rights.