Liberia

Independent republic on the west coast of Africa, bordered to the north by Sierra Leone and Guinea, to the east by the Ivory Coast, and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

General information

• Capital: Monrovia
• Population: 2.9 million
• Area: 111 370 km2
• Languages: English - official language
• Exports: Iron ore; diamonds; natural rubber; coffee; timber
• Imports: Fuel; chemicals; machinery; transportation equipment; manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs
• Currency: Liberian Dollar

Trademarks

Law:

Patent, Copyright and Trade Mark Law of May 24, 1972.

International Conventions:

WIPO, Paris Union, Madrid Agreement, Berne Union.

Requirements for Application:

(a) Combined authorisation of agent, oath and declaration, legalised up to Liberian consular level.
(b) Twenty prints of the trade mark - word and device marks.

Classification:

Whilst there is no formal classification, the international classification of goods and services is recognised and applicants should merely list the goods/services of interest. A single application may cover more than one class.

Procedure:

Although in theory applications should be examined for registrability and conflict with prior marks, this does not occur in practice and applications are merely examined as to formal requirements.

Opposition:

No provision.

Use:

Trade mark open to cancellation if not used within a period of two years.

Duration and Renewal:

A trade mark registration is effective for an initial period of fifteen years and, thereafter, renewable for like periods.

Licensing/Registered Users:

Licensing is recognised. Recordation is required to be legally binding. The license agreement must provide for quality control by the licensor.

Requirements:

(a) License agreement, legalised up to Liberian consular level;
(b) Power of attorney from the proprietor, legalised up to Liberian consular level;
(c) Power of attorney from the licensee legalised up to Liberian consular level.

Assignments:

Assignments are possible and must be made with goodwill of the business.

Recordation is required in order to become legally enforceable against third parties.

Requirements:

(a) Deed of assignment, legalised up to Liberian consular level;
(b) Power of attorney from the assignee, legalised up to Liberian consular level;
(c) Original certificate of registration for endorsement.

Marking of Goods:

Notice of registration by use of the legend ‘Registered Trade Mark’ or suitable abbreviation (eg. ‘Regd. Tm.’) or symbol ® optional.

No requirement to show country of origin. Packaging of consumer goods is required to bear an English text.

Patents

General:

Patent protection is obtainable via a national filing. Liberia is a member of the International Convention and of PCT. While new legislation has been in the process of being drafted for a number of years, no details are yet available.

Filing Requirements:

Documents require notarisation and legalization up to Liberian Consular level. A specification in English is required.

Novelty:

The Liberian filing date or priority date should be:

(1) before the invention has been known or used by others in Liberia or patented or described in a printed publication anywhere, prior to its invention;
(2) before twelve months have elapsed between the invention´s being patented or described in a printed publication anywhere; and
(3) before the invention is described in a patent granted in Liberia under an earlier application.

Examination:

An application is subjected to formal examination only.

Duration/Maintenance:

Patents are granted for a term not exceeding twenty years calculated the date of grant for national applications, and from the international filing date for PCT national phase applications. Maintenance fees are payable annually as from the first anniversary of the filing date. A grace period of six months is provided.

Working:

Working should be effected in Liberia within three years from the date of grant of the patent. If such working has not taken place, the patent is deemed to be abandoned. Nominal working may suffice to meet the working requirement.