The EUIPO and Egypt’s TIDO launch trade mark and design examination guidelines
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has been the lead supporter of the Egyptian Trademarks and Industrial Designs Office (TIDO) in the development of the trade mark and design examination guidelines for Egypt, in the context of the EU-funded Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Africa (AfrIPI) project. The guidelines will serve as a practical training tool for examiners and a valuable reference document for the office’s users. This activity is part of EUIPO´s mandate to share expertise based on EUIPO´s common practices with the objective of providing a level playing field and a business environment familiar to EU companies abroad.
The guidelines were officially presented at a roundtable event in Cairo, Egypt on 23 September 2024. The content of the guidelines was highlighted, as well as how to use them effectively through a practical guide. The guidelines aim to complement the skills and expertise of those involved in trade mark and design examination, and to improve the quality of the services provided by TIDO to the business community. The adoption of the guidelines also provides the foundations to further work and converge with the TIDO moving forward.
This activity is the outcome of the joint efforts initiated in 2021 by the EUIPO and TIDO experts to develop the guidelines and offer training to the TIDO staff for their effective implementation. The guidelines are available in English through the following link: Trade Marks Guidelines and Industrial Designs Guidelines.
The launch event was attended by Mr Hany Arafa, Interim Director of TIDO and Mr Carlos Lleó, EUIPO Deputy Project Leader of AfrIPI, along with TIDO staff, examiners, office users and IP stakeholders.