INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN TUNISIA

In Tunisia, the trademark applications must be filed through the National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property (INNORPI).
Multi-class trademark applications are acceptable.
The third parties can file opposition actions against a trademark application within two (02) months following its publication in the trademarks journal.
In Tunisia, the registered trademarks have a validity of ten (10) years from the date of application, which can be further renewed indefinitely for periods of ten (10) years.

Tunisia is a member of the Paris Convention and Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
The Law No. 2000-84 of August 24, 2000, on Patents, deals with the mechanism of patent protection in Tunisia.
Process Patent and Product Patent are the two types of patents that can be protected in Tunisia.
In Tunisia, any invention that satisfies the conditions of novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, subjects to patentability.
The types of patent applications in Tunisia include Non-Convention Application, Convention Application, PCT National Phase Application, Divisional Application, and Patent of Addition.
Utility Model Protection is available under the patent law.
The time-period for the PCT National Phase Filing is thirty (30) months.
Opposition against a patent application can't be raised in Tunisia.
The patent of invention lasts for twenty (20) years in Tunisia.
The time frame for payment of Annuities before the due date is six (06) months.

Tunisia is a member of the Paris Convention and Hague Agreement.
The Law No. 2001-21 of February 6, 2001, on the Protection of Industrial Designs, deals with the mechanism of registration of industrial designs.
The types of industrial design applications in Tunisia include Non-Convention Application and Convention Application.
Utility model protection isn't provided under industrial design protection in Tunisia.
Opposition against an industrial design application can't be raised in Tunisia.
The duration of protection of a registered industrial design is granted for five (05), ten (10), or fifteen (15) years starting from the date of application, at the applicant's choosing, and upon payment of the prescribed renewal fee. The applicant, with the requisite declaration, may extend the protection term where it has been made only for a period of five (05) or ten years (10), without exceeding the maximum period of protection set at fifteen (15) years.
There is no grace period to renew an industrial design in Tunisia.

Tunisia is a signatory to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.
The Law No. 94—36 of February 24, 1994, on Literary and Artistic Property, deals with the mechanism of copyright protection in Tunisia.
In Tunisia, the authors of creative works are entitled to copyright protection upon creation and without any formality.
The standard copyright protection term lasts for the lifetime of the author plus fifty (50) years following his death. However, the duration of copyright protection varies depending on the type of work.