Trademarks

SOUTH AFRICA

Service Marks in Africa

At present the following African countries still do not make provision for the registration of service marks:

•  Gambia (Using the Old British Classification of Goods)

•  Malawi

•  Nigeria

•  Sierra Leone (Using the Old British Classification of Goods)

•  Uganda

•  Zambia

Due to the importance in trade that service marks become registrable throughout Africa as soon as possible, the authorities in these countries are under international pressure to amend their local trade mark legislation to accommodate service classes. We continue to monitor developments closely and shall report on all changes regarding registration of service marks in Africa.