南苏丹商标保护的最新情况

南苏丹知识产权部（以下简称“知产部”）宣布，允许商标所有者“保留”他们的商标。“保留”申请可立即被接受。

The Ministry of IP in South Sudan (The Ministry) has announced that it is allowing trade mark owners to “reserve” their trade marks, applications for which are being accepted immediately.

南苏丹自2011年独立以来一直未实施注册商标保护。在苏丹获得的商标注册在南苏丹无效，即使是在南苏丹独立之前获得的。南苏丹的《2015年知识产权法案》（以下简称“知产法案”）已提交议会，但尚未获准通过进行实施。在此期间，知产部引入了一种“保留”制度，作为一种警示通知，以告知公众，商标所有人正在使用商标。此外，一旦知产法案获准通过，已“保留”的商标将阻止第三方注册类似的商标。知产法案通过后，已保留商标的注册不会自动进行；很可能需要进一步的注册申请。

Since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, registered trade mark protection has not been available. Trade mark registrations obtained in Sudan are not valid in South Sudan, even if they were obtained prior to its independence. South Sudan’s Intellectual Property Bill 2015 (the Bill) is before Parliament but has not yet been passed into law. In the interim, The Ministry has introduced a “reservation” system to act as a type of cautionary notice, whereby the general public is notified that a trade mark owner is using a mark. Further, when you “reserve” a mark, it will stop a third party from registering a similar mark once the Bill has passed into law. Registration of a reserved mark once the Bill has been passed will not happen automatically; it is likely that a further application for registration will be required.

据我们所知，如果您申请“保留”商标，知产部将不会下发任何确认保留的文件。然而，该商标将被记录在知产部的数据库，并且保留申请将加盖知产部的公章。

If you wish to “reserve” a mark, it is our understanding that no documentation confirming the reservation will be issued. However, the mark will be entered into The Ministry’s database and the application for reservation will be stamped with The Ministry’s official stamp.

由于这是一个新制度，上述程序有可能更改。

As this is a new system, it is possible that there will be changes to the procedure as outlined above.

如果您有兴趣在南苏丹保留商标，或对保留程序和相关费用有任何疑问，请与我们联系。

If you are interested in reserving a mark in South Sudan or have any queries regarding the reservation process and related costs, please get in touch.

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联系作者 Contact the author

Elise Cant: ecant@marks-clerk.com