Overview
Tunisia ensures protection for trademarks, patents, and industrial designs through the Institut National de la Normalisation et de la Propriété Industrielle (INNORPI). The country is not part of any regional African IP organizations such as ARIPO or OAPI, so applicants must file directly under Tunisia’s national procedures. INNORPI follows recognized international standards, offering both local and foreign applicants clear registration processes and legal avenues to combat infringement.
By maintaining its own national IP office and adhering to major international treaties, Tunisia offers a structured environment for protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights.
International Conventions
Tunisia is party to several global treaties shaping its IP landscape, including:
Paris Convention
Berne Convention
TRIPS Agreement
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Madrid System (Madrid Agreement and Protocol)
IP office
Trademark registration in Tunisia allows for multi-class applications, meaning applicants can file a single application covering multiple classes of goods and/or services under the Nice Classification.
Applicants must present a clear copy of the trademark and remit official fees.
A substantive examination checks distinctiveness and possible conflicts with existing trademarks.
Registration remains valid for 10 years from the filing date, renewable for further 10-year periods.
Applicants must accurately provide their name, address, and a concise list of goods and services.
As Tunisia participates in the Madrid System, foreign applicants may designate Tunisia through an international filing for broader coverage.
Once granted, trademark rights may be enforced through administrative channels or civil actions if unauthorized use occurs in the Tunisian market.
Patent applications in Tunisia are handled by INNORPI, protecting inventions that fulfill novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
A patent is valid for 20 years from the filing date, provided annual maintenance fees are paid.
Applicants submit a comprehensive specification, claims, and relevant supporting documents.
A formal and substantive examination confirms whether the invention qualifies for patentability.
Membership in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) allows foreign applicants to enter Tunisia’s national phase after a single international application.
Granted patents confer exclusive rights in Tunisia, allowing owners to seek remedies if infringement arises.
INNORPI manages industrial design registrations in Tunisia, safeguarding the ornamental or aesthetic aspects of products.
Applicants file representations or drawings of the design, along with official fees.
Design registrations typically last for an initial term of five years, renewable twice for a total of 15 years.
Complete and precise applicant details are required to ensure valid registration.
A registered design gives the owner the exclusive right to prevent unauthorized manufacture, import, or marketing of items that closely resemble the protected design in Tunisia.
