Trademark Registration in Georgia: A Step by Step Sakpatenti Guide

Below are the stages, realistic timelines and tariffs, plus the restriction on non-residents that many applicants discover only at filing.

What registration gives you

A registered mark secures the exclusive right to use a sign for the goods and services you claimed. Without registration you have to prove rights through evidence of use, which is slower and less reliable.

In practice the value comes down to three things:

• The ability to stop third parties using a confusingly similar sign.
• Easier recovery of damages when infringement occurs.
• A higher business valuation through an intangible asset that can be valued, sold or licensed.

Georgia is a member of the World Trade Organization and participates in international agreements on the protection of intellectual property.

The stages of registration

The Sakpatenti procedure runs through consecutive stages:

1. Filing the application with the representation of the mark and the list of Nice classification classes.
2. Formal examination. Completeness is checked and the filing date is established. This takes up to two months.
3. Substantive examination. The sign is assessed for registrability and similarity to earlier marks.
4. Publication of the representation in the official bulletin.
5. The opposition period, during which third parties may object.
6. Registration and issue of the certificate.

Nice classes set both the scope of protection and the cost

A mark is not protected in the abstract but for specific goods and services. Classes are chosen at filing, and each extra class raises the fee. The list cannot be extended after registration, which would require a fresh application, so the set of classes is worth planning carefully.

Timing: a year versus 10 working days

Sakpatenti offers two speeds:

• Standard procedure. Roughly one year, covering both examinations, publication and the opposition period.
• Accelerated procedure. 10 working days against higher fees.

The accelerated route makes sense when the mark is needed for a product launch, a transaction or a dispute with a competitor. Without that urgency, the standard route is considerably cheaper.

Official fees

Sakpatenti publishes tariffs in USD equivalent, with payment made in the national currency. The main items are:

Filing electronically through the official Sakpatenti website reduces official fees by 20%, including the issue of the certificate.

Source note

> In case of electronic filing of applications with Sakpatenti, 20% reduction shall apply to the fees, including issuing a certificate.

Source: Fees related to registration of trademarks, Sakpatenti

The restriction on non-residents

This is the main practical catch. A non-resident without a Georgian residence permit and without a registered local legal entity may not file with Sakpatenti directly. The applicant's functions pass to an attested patent attorney.

That leaves two workable routes:

• Act through a patent attorney who files and prosecutes the application on your behalf.
• Register a Georgian company first and file in its name. The forms and procedure are covered in LLC, sole trader or JSC in Georgia.

Applications are filed in Georgian, which makes local representation effectively unavoidable in any case.

International protection

Registration with Sakpatenti protects the mark in Georgia only. Three routes exist for other markets:

• The Madrid Protocol. Suited to marks aimed at international markets, with one application covering several countries.
• The Paris Convention. Covers 117 countries and gives priority from the date of first filing.
• A separate national application in each country.

The choice depends on where protection is genuinely needed. Registering everywhere indiscriminately makes no economic sense.

Adjacent rights: patents and copyright

A trademark protects a sign, not a technical solution or the content itself. Where the task is broader, other instruments apply: patent registration for inventions and copyright for works. Documents intended for use abroad may need legalisation, covered in Apostille in Georgia.

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-resident register a trademark in Georgia?

Not directly. A non-resident without a residence permit and without a registered Georgian legal entity files through an attested patent attorney. The alternative is to register a Georgian company first and file the application in its name.

How long does registration take?

The standard procedure takes about a year and covers formal examination, substantive examination, publication and the opposition period. The accelerated procedure completes in 10 working days, but fees are markedly higher at every stage.

How much does a trademark cost?

Standard official fees for a single class consist of formal examination at USD 90, substantive examination at USD 120, publication at USD 60 and registration with certificate at USD 150. Each additional class adds USD 50. Filing online reduces these by 20%.

How long is protection valid and how is it renewed?

Initial registration secures protection for 10 years. The mark is then renewed for further ten year terms. The renewal fee for 10 years covering one class is USD 300, with each additional class adding USD 50.

What if the mark resembles one already registered?

Similarity is identified during substantive examination and can lead to refusal. Running a clearance check before filing is therefore sensible: it costs less than forfeited fees and lost time. Where a conflict appears, the sign is adjusted or the list of classes is narrowed.

How Legalese handles this

We begin by checking the sign against Sakpatenti databases for similarity to earlier marks and for compliance with registrability criteria. That removes the main risk of refusal after the fees have been paid.

We then select Nice classes to match actual operations, prepare and file the application, correspond with the examiners and monitor the opposition period. For non-residents the filing is made through an attested patent attorney, and we take that part on.

The scope of work and the international options are described on the Trademark registration in Georgia page.

Key points

• Trademarks are registered by Sakpatenti. The standard route takes about a year, the accelerated route 10 working days.
• Official fees are published in USD equivalent and paid in lari, with a 20% discount for online filing.
• A standard single class filing consists of USD 90, 120, 60 and 150 across the stages, with each extra class adding USD 50.
• A non-resident without a residence permit or a Georgian company can only file through an attested patent attorney, and applications are in Georgian.
• Protection runs for 10 years and is renewable. For other countries, use the Madrid Protocol or the Paris Convention.

To clear your mark and price the fees for your classes, book a free consultation.