Country Data
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Name | The Republic of Tunisia |
| Capital | Tunis |
| Area | 163,610 sq. km |
| Population | 12,348,573 (2025 estimate) |
| Official Language | Arabic |
| GDP | US$57.503 billion (2025) |
| Currency | Tunisian Dinar |
| Work Days | Monday – Friday |
Conventions/ Treaties
- Paris Convention (effective since July 7, 1884)
- WIPO Convention (effective since November 28, 1975)
- Berne Convention (effective since December 5, 1887)
- TRIPS Agreement/WTO – Tunisia has been a member of the WTO since March 29, 1995 and is therefore bound by the TRIPS Agreement.
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) – Available – Tunisia has been a member of the PCT since December 10, 2001. The PCT national phase entry deadline is generally 30 months from the priority date.
- Madrid System – Available – Tunisia acceded to the Madrid Protocol on July 16, 2013, which entered into force on October 16, 2013.
- Singapore Treaty – Not a member.
- Hague Agreement – Tunisia is a member of the Hague Agreement (effective since October 20, 1930).
- Nice Agreement – Tunisia is a member of the Nice Agreement (effective since May 29, 1967).
- Locarno Agreement – Not a member.
- WIPO Copyright Treaty – Tunisia has been a member since June 16, 2023.
- WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty – Tunisia has been a member since June 16, 2023.
National Legislation
- Law No. 2001-36 of April 17, 2001 on the Protection of Trademarks and Service Marks, as amended and supplemented by Law No. 2007-50 of July 23, 2007, together with the applicable implementing regulations, including Decree No. 2015-303 of June 1, 2015.
Basic Information
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Creation of rights | Registration-based system; ownership of a trademark is acquired through registration. |
| Basis for filing | Registration is the principal basis of trademark protection. |
| Well-known marks | Well-known marks receive protection under the applicable law, including protection against conflicting later registrations. Local registration is nevertheless recommended. |
| Types of marks | Trademarks, service marks and collective marks. The law also protects marks consisting of words, letters, numbers, figurative elements, shapes, colours and sounds, subject to the statutory requirements. |
| Priority | 6-month priority claim under the Paris Convention. |
| Madrid System | Available – Tunisia is a member of the Madrid Protocol. |
| Filing system | Multi-class filing is available. |
| Classification | Nice Classification. |
| Who can be Applicant | Natural persons and legal entities. Applicants domiciled outside Tunisia must appoint a representative established in Tunisia. |
| Examination | Formal and substantive examination. |
| Publication | In the Official Bulletin of the industrial property authority. An admissible application is published within a maximum period of 12 months from the filing date. |
| Opposition period | 2 months from the date of publication of the trademark application. |
| Duration of registration | 10 years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for successive periods of 10 years. |
| Renewal period | Renewal may be requested during the last 6 months of the current protection period. |
| Use requirement | A trademark may be subject to cancellation for non-use where, without legitimate reason, it has not been seriously used for an uninterrupted period of 5 years. |
| Registration timeframe (straightforward case) | Approximately 12 to 18 months, depending on examination, publication and whether opposition is filed. |
Search
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Search | Available through INNORPI. |
| Scope of search | Includes available trademark records maintained by INNORPI. |
| Turnaround time | Subject to the type of search and INNORPI’s processing time. |
Ways to obtain protection
- Filing of a national application with or without priority claim under the Paris Convention.
- Filing through the Madrid System where the applicable requirements for an international registration are satisfied.
Documentary Requirements
New Applications
- Power of Attorney from the applicant, where represented by a local agent.
- A copy of the applicant’s certificate of incorporation/commercial registration, where applicable.
- A representation of the trademark.
- A list of goods/services covered by the application.
- A certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
- Any other documents required by the competent authority, depending on the nature of the application.
Renewal of Registration
- Power of attorney from the trademark owner.
- Details/copy of the trademark registration.
- Renewal application and prescribed fees.
Change of Name / Address Recordation
- Power of attorney stating the new name/address of the trademark owner.
- Change of Name/Address document.
- A copy/details of the trademark registration.
Assignment Recordation
- Power of attorney from the Assignee.
- Deed of Assignment, duly signed by the Assignor and Assignee.
- A copy/details of the trademark registration.
Merger Recordation
- Power of attorney from the surviving entity.
- Merger document.
- A copy/details of the trademark registration.
License Recordation
- Powers of attorney from the Licensor and Licensee, where applicable.
- License agreement, duly signed by the relevant parties.
- A copy/details of the trademark registration.
National Legislation
- Law No. 2000-84 of August 24, 2000 on Patents.
Ways to obtain patent protection:
- National Filing in Tunisia
- Convention application under the Paris Convention
- PCT National Phase Entry
Basic Information
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Claims admissible for | 1) Process; and 2) Product |
| Novelty requirement | Absolute novelty, subject to the statutory provisions. |
| Inventive step | The invention must involve an inventive step and must not be obvious to a person skilled in the relevant art. |
| Industrial applicability | The invention must be susceptible of industrial application. |
| Convention priority | Available (12 months). |
| PCT national phase entry deadline | 30 months from the priority date. |
| Search | Available through the competent IP authority and under the PCT system, where applicable. |
| Examination | With respect to form, novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. |
| Publication | Patent applications are published in accordance with the applicable statutory procedures. |
| Opposition period | Proceedings may be initiated in accordance with the applicable provisions following publication. |
| Protection term (patent) | 20 years from the filing date, non-renewable. |
| Annuity payment | Annual fees are payable to maintain the patent. |
| Grace period for late annuity payment | Subject to the applicable regulations and prescribed surcharge. |
| Working/Compulsory License | Compulsory licensing provisions are available under the Patent Law. |
| Patent grant timeframe (straightforward case) | Approximately 2 to 4 years. |
Filing Requirements
- Patent specification, claims, drawings (if any), and abstract.
- Applicant’s details.
- Inventor’s details.
- Certificate of incorporation or commercial registration document related to the applicant company, where applicable.
- Assignment of invention rights, where the applicant is not the inventor.
- Power of Attorney from the applicant, where represented by a local agent.
- A duly certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
- For a Convention application, the following items would also be required:
- Certified copy of the priority document.
- Verified translation where required.
- Supporting documents required by the competent IP authority.
National Legislation
- Law No. 2001-21 of February 6, 2001 on the Protection of Industrial Designs, together with the applicable implementing regulations.
Ways to obtain protection for design:
- National filing in Tunisia
- Application with priority claim under the Paris Convention
- International filing through the Hague System, where applicable.
Basic Information
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Types of designs | Industrial designs and industrial models. |
| Novelty | Novelty and originality are prerequisites for protection. |
| Multiple figures | Representations may be submitted to adequately disclose the design. |
| Convention priority | 6-month priority may be claimed. |
| Locarno Classification | Tunisia is not a member of the Locarno Agreement. |
| Examination | Applications are examined for compliance with the applicable formal requirements. |
| Publication | Registered designs are published in accordance with the applicable procedures. |
| Opposition | Interested persons may challenge the validity of a design in accordance with the applicable law and judicial procedures. |
| Protection term | 5, 10 or 15 years, depending on the period selected, with a maximum protection period of 15 years. |
| Annuities | Fees are payable as prescribed under the applicable regulations. |
| Registration timeframe (straightforward case) | Approximately 6 to 12 months. |
Filing Requirements
- Representations (drawings/photographs) of the design.
- Certificate of incorporation or commercial registration document related to the applicant company, where applicable.
- Assignment deed executed by the creator in favor of the applicant, if the applicant is not the creator.
- Power of Attorney from the applicant, where represented by a local agent.
- A duly certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
National Legislation
- Law No. 94-36 of February 24, 1994 on Literary and Artistic Property, as amended and supplemented by Law No. 2009-33 of June 23, 2009
Basic Information
- Works protected: The Tunisian Copyright Law protects original literary, artistic and scientific works, including books and written works; computer programs; databases; lectures, speeches and similar works; dramatic and musical works; audiovisual works; photographs; drawings, paintings, sculpture and other artistic works; architectural works; maps and scientific works; and other protected literary and artistic works.
- Exceptions to copyright protection: Ideas, procedures, methods of operation, mathematical concepts and abstract facts are generally excluded from copyright protection. Certain official texts and basic news/facts are also excluded in accordance with the applicable legislation.
- Duration of copyright: Copyright protection generally lasts for the lifetime of the author and 50 years after the author’s death. Joint works are generally protected for 50 years after the death of the last surviving author. Special rules may apply to anonymous, pseudonymous, audiovisual, photographic and certain other works.
- Registration: Copyright protection arises automatically and is not dependent on registration.
- Deposit: Voluntary deposit/declaration may be available with the competent copyright authority or relevant collective management body.
- Registration timeframe: No registration is required for copyright protection.
Requirements
- Copies of the work.
- Name, address and nationality of the applicant.
- Nature of the applicant’s interest in the work.
- Title of the work.
- Name, address and nationality of the author.
- Power of Attorney from the applicant, where applicable.
- Assignment deed executed by the author in favor of the applicant, if the applicant is not the author.
- Any additional documents required by the competent copyright authority depending on the nature of the work.
