Intellectual Property Registration:

The most common intellectual property matters we handle include applications for patent, trademark and copyright registration.  These services are available to clients worldwide, who are seeking protection in  Belize.  Other intellectual property matters, such as contracts, license and sales agreements are also available.

Trademark Services:

Typically, a trademark is a logo, graphic or short phrase / slogan or unique packaging used to identify a product or company.  The Trade Marks Act, 2000, repeals the United Kingdom Trade Marks Act (formerly incorporated into Belizean Laws) and the Merchandise Marks Act.  The new law is intended to bring Belize into conformity with certain provisions of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property 1883 as revised and amended.

A Trade Mark, as defined by the Act, is any sign capable of being represented graphically and which is capable of distinguishing goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings.  It may, in particular, consist of words (including personal names) designs, letters, numerals or the shape of goods or their packaging.  A Trade Mark shall be registered for a period of ten (10) years from date of registration and renewal is for a further ten (10) years.  The Proprietor of a registered Trade Mark has exclusive rights in the Trade Mark, which are infringed by the use of the Trade Mark in Belize without his consent (subject to the provisions of the Act).  The Act expressly defines a registered Trade Mark as personal property which carries with it all of the possible transactions normally attendant upon personal/movable property, including enforcement of such rights by infringement proceedings.

Priority for registration purposes is afforded on a first come first serve basis.  However, a person who has duly filed an application for protection of a Trade Mark in a country which is party to the Paris Convention will have a right to priority of registration if the application for registration is made under the Belize Act not later than six months after the filing of the first application.  Our firm regularly handles trademark applications, trademark licenses and trademark contracts.

Patent Services:

A patent is a legal mechanism for protecting an idea, invention, software, method or design.  Patents are either novel creations or modifications to existing ideas.  The Patents Act, 2000 repeals the Patents and Design Act of Belize and the United Kingdom Patents Act of 1949 and 1999 in so far as these latter Acts have effect as part of the Law of Belize.  Patents are granted for new inventions, or anything that involves an inventive step; and inventions that have industrial application.

Requirements:

• A formal request containing the petition for granting of a patent,

• The name or pertinent information of the applicant, inventor and agent,

• Name of the invention,

• Also required are a description of the invention; one or more claims to define the matter for which protection is sought; one or more drawings where required, and an abstract.

Our firm assists with the patent searching, and application processes.  We also draft patent licenses and patent related contracts.  A license allows a person or company to use a patent.  The license typically requires the user of the patent to pay the patent holder a royalty for the use.  We regularly assist with patent licensing and sale agreements.

Copyright Services:

A copyright is a legal protection afforded to an author of a creative work.  Although copyright protection is automatically afforded to an author upon completion of the work, many additional rights are only available if the work is registered.  The Copyright Act, 2000 established better protection of individual property rights of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and other creative people.  The Act is modeled on the UK Copyright, Designs & Patents Act and is probably the most modern, and comprehensive copyright legislation in the Commonwealth Caribbean.  Our firm handles copyright applications, licensing and assignment contracts.