Brief overview of the trademark registration process and its duration before the Costa Rican Trademark Office.
Trademark registration in Costa Rica can last anywhere from 5 months to 10 months, under normal circumstances. Naturally, the workload experienced at the time by the Trademarks Office, oppositions, administrative actions or the need to appeal refusals might lengthen the duration.
Filing stage
Once an application has been filed, you will receive a filing receipt and the particulars of the application.
Meanwhile, the application will undergo examination by the trademarks officials and, assuming no unexpected obstacles, within 1 to 6 months the application will enter the publication stage.
Publication stage
Trademark applications are published in the official gazette for 2 months. Publication grants third parties the opportunity to oppose or object registration of the prospective mark. In this case, it will become necessary for the applicant to defend his application in order to avoid the possibility of facing refusal.
Registration stage
If no oppositions are filed or the trademarks official finds the application satisfactory, the Registrar will order registration of the mark and would proceed to issue the certificate.
Each registration has a 10-year duration, renewable at each successive 10-year interval thereafter.
