Zanzibar
Classification
The International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification) is applied. One application covers a single class.
Convention priority
As part of Tanzania, Zanzibar is a member of the Paris Convention. . An applicant for a trade mark who has applied for the same trade mark in another Paris Convention member country, is entitled to a priority right. This accords them the same effective date as the first filed application, provided the Zanzibar application is filed within six months of such earlier filing date.
Examination/procedure
The Registrar examines the application to determine whether it complies with the formal as well as the substantive and relative requirements.
The Registrar will, if he is satisfied that the application complies with the requirements, accept the application and advertise the application for opposition purposes in the Official Journal. Thereafter the registration certificate will be issued.
Opposition
Opposition may be lodged within two months following advertisement of the trade mark application. It is possible to secure extensions of the opposition term if sufficient cause is shown. The Registrar has absolute discretion to grant an extension of time.
Duration and renewal
The registration of a mark shall be for a period of 10 years from the filing date of the application for registration. The registration of a mark may, upon request, be renewed for consecutive periods of seven years, provided that the registered owner pays the prescribed renewal fee. A six-month grace period is allowed for the payment of late renewal fees.
In the event that priority is claimed, the initial 10-year period is calculated from the priority date and thereafter can be renewed for periods of seven years.
Subject matter eligible for protection
The law provides for copyright in respect of original intellectual creations in the form of literary and artistic works, including:
- Books, pamphlets, articles, scientific and artistic writings and other writings, including computer programs
- Speeches, lectures, addresses, sermons and other works
- Dramatic and dramatico-musical works, choreographic works, pantomimes, and other works created for stage productions
- Musical works
- Audiovisual works
- Works of architecture
- Works of painting, drawing, sculpture, engraving, lithography and tapestry and other works of fine art
- Photographic works
- Works of applied art
- Illustrations, maps, plans, sketches and three-dimensional works relative to geography, topography, architecture or science.
Derivative works shall also be protected, including:
- Translations, adaptations, arrangements and other transformations of works
- Collections of works, compilations of data (databases), collections of expression of folklore.
Registration of copyright
No requirement for registration. Copyright subsists by the sole fact of the creation of the works. It appears that registration of copyright in Zanzibar is possible, should a copyright owner wish to obtain registered protection of copyright-protected works, through COSOZA and is subject to an annual subscription fee and membership.
Duration of copyright
In the case of literary, musical and artistic works, the economic rights of the copyright will endure for the lifetime of the author plus 50 years. In the case of works of applied art, the duration is 25 years from the making of the work.

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