BVI Trademark Registration

Registration of Trade Marks

The Registrar of Trade Marks of British Virgin Islands may register a trade mark on application by or on behalf of any person, claiming to be the proprietor of a trade mark.

For the purposes of registering a Trade Mark in the BVI, a mark must consist, at least, one of the following essential particulars:

1. A name of an individual or firm printed, impressed or woven in some particular and distinctive manner; or
2. A written signature, or copy of a written signature, of the individual or firm applying for registration thereof as a trade mark; or
3. A distinctive devise, mark, brand, heading, label or ticket; or
4. An invented word or invented words; or
5. A word or words having no reference to the character or quality of the goods, and not being a geographical name.

For more information or guidelines regarding trademark registration, please see: Trademark Guidelines. 

A trade mark must be registered for particular goods or classes of goods.

Application for Registration.

For the registration of a trade mark in the BVI the following documents are required:

1. Statement by the Applicant. This statement must contain the following:

• The name and address of the applicant, and

• The description or reference to a description of the trade mark to be registered,

• The class or classes of goods, and

• The particular description or descriptions of goods in such class or classes.

•  In case of a trade mark already in use, the length of time during which it has been in used.

2. Declaration by applicant. The declaration must verify the statement and declare that, to the best of the applicant’s knowledge and belief, he is lawfully entitled to use the trade mark.  The declaration must accompany the Statement.
3. Power of Attorney
4. In case the trade mark consists of a distinctive device, mark, brand, heading, label or ticket, an ink stamp showing the trade mark must be supplied.

The documents mentioned in point (2) and (3) must be acknowledged by a Notary Public, and where signed outside of the British Virgin Islands MUST be duly authenticate by Apostille or the closest British Consulate.

Filing of Application for Registration of a Trade Mark:

The application for registration of a trade mark is filed with the Registry of Trade Marks of the BVI and published in the BVI Official Gazette twice. 

Three months after the date of the first publication (within which opposition against th application may be filed by anyone claiming to have that right), the Registry shall grant registration of the mark for  a renewable period of fourteen (14) years and shall cause the corresponding certificate of registration.

Assignment:

The document containing the assignment must be filed at the Registry of Trade Marks; this document must be acknowledge by a Notary Public. 

A power of attorney is required, authorising the Agent to file it on behalf of the Applicant.