The main legislation in Zanzibar is the Zanzibar Industrial Property Act, 2008 and the Industrial Property Regulations, 2014. Tanzania Zanzibar is also a party to the following Conventions:

1. World Intellectual Property Organization Convention, 1967 (effective for Tanzania as from 30 December 1983);
2. Paris Convention (International Union) 1883–1967 (effective for Tanzania as from 16 June 1963);
3. Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Union) 1957–1977 (effective for Tanzania as from 14 September 1999)
4. Agreement on the Creation of theAfrican Regional Industrial Property Organization, 1979 ((effective for Tanzania as from 12 October 1983);
5. The Protocol on Marks within the Framework of African Region Industrial Property Organization (the Harare Protocol), 1993) (effective for Tanzania as from 01 September 1999); and
6. Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (Annex 1C of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), 1994.

Categories of Trade Marks:

There are provisions for the registration of service marks, collective marks, certification marks and series marks.

Requirements

1. Power of Attorney
2. Applicant’s full name and address;
3. Ten (10) prints of the proposed trademark (except for word marks in ordinary type). If applicable, you have to inform us whether the trademark is to be filed in color;
4. Priority Document (if applicable) with verified English translation;
5. If the proposed trademark is in a language other than English, the Trademark Office normally requires the applicant to meet application to be accompanied with verified English translation;
6. Description of the goods and services for which registration is to be registered so that we may assist you to draft suitable specification; and
7. Payment of filling fee.

Trademarks are classified according to the goods or services for which you propose to use and register the mark. As pointed out above, Zanzibar applies International Classification of Goods and Services (Nice Classification-Eighth Edition).

When the Examiner is satisfied that there are no outstanding objections from the Trademark Office, the trademark will be recommended for acceptance and advertised in the Patents, Trade and Services Marks Journal; third parties can oppose the registration of the trademark within ninety (60) days (for Zanzibar) from the date of advertisement. If no opposition is filed (or an opposition is resolved in favor of the applicant), the application proceeds to registration and a certificate of registration is issued upon payment of registration fee.