Belize
The Belize Trademark System
Belize Trademark Office
The Belize Intellectual Property Office is responsible for overseeing the registration and granting of trademarks. Belize’s laws provide that trademarks can consist of signs that can be graphically represented and are able to distinguish the goods or services of one undertaking from those of another.
Obtaining a Trademark in Belize
Anyone may apply for a trademark and no prior use is necessary. Trademark registrations in Belize last for ten years with the option to renew for subsequent ten year periods. The Belize Intellectual Property Office allows for a six month grace period to file for renewal after the end of each term. However, a trademark is subject to cancellation if it is not used for a period of five consecutive years.
Recent Developments in Belize’s Trademark Law
Belize has undergone sweeping intellectual property reform with its first legislation of trademarks, the Trade Marks Act of 2000, and with the creation of the Belize Intellectual Property Office in 2001. A UK trademark registration is no longer a prerequisite to local registration.