Trademark prosecution refers to the legal process of registering a trademark with the relevant government authority to ensure its protection and exclusive use within the marketplace. This process involves preparing and filing trademark applications, seeking registration, maintaining trademark rights, and addressing any opposition or interference during the registration process.
While individual countries maintain their own trademark registration systems, businesses can register their trademarks with regional organizations like ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organization), which has 21 member states, through the Banjul Protocol (1993), and OAPI (Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle), which has 17 member states. These regional systems streamline the registration process across multiple countries within their respective regions, complementing national registration efforts.
