{"id":4766,"date":"2018-06-28T10:51:39","date_gmt":"2018-06-28T10:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/10.21.133.142\/?page_id=4766"},"modified":"2026-01-30T10:00:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T08:00:58","slug":"guidelines-and-practice-notes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/?page_id=4766","title":{"rendered":"GUIDELINES AND PRACTICE NOTES"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;54px|0px|0px|0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|0px|2px|0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">GUIDELINES AND PRACTICE NOTES<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|0px|0px|0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;0px|0px|0px|0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=&#8221;on&#8221; gutter_width=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#e7e7e8&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;27px|0px|27px|0px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_accordion _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][et_pb_accordion_item open=&#8221;on&#8221; open_toggle_text_color=&#8221;#000000&#8243; open_toggle_background_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; closed_toggle_text_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; closed_toggle_background_color=&#8221;#00727d&#8221; icon_color=&#8221;#00727d&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><strong>GUIDELINES <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Guideline_on_the_Examination_of_Trade_Marks_by_the_South_African_Trade_Marks_Office_-_Version_3A_August_2019.pdf\">Guidelines on the Examination of Trade Mark Applications &#8211; Version 3A (August 2019)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>PRACTICE NOTES:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Practice-Notice-1-of-2026-combined.pdf\">Patent stakeholders: electronic issuance of digital patents and patents of addition 1 February 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Guidelines-with-Regard-to-the-Lodging-of-Non-Traditional-Trade-Marks.pdf\">Guidelines with Regard to the Lodging of Non-Traditional Trade Marks (1 January 2009)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-Electronic-Lodgement-of-Priority-Documents-28-August-2013.pdf\">Notice on Electronic Lodgement of Priority Documents (28 August 2013)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-Operational-E-Filing-for-Trade-Marks.pdf\">Notice on Operational E-Filing for Trade Marks: New Applications (28 August 2013)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-Electronic-Lodgement-of-Opposition-Documents.pdf\">Notice on Electronic Lodgement of Opposition Documents (2 September 2013)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/NOTICE_NAMING_CONVENTIONS.pdf\">Notice on Naming Conventions Applicable to Electronic Lodgement of New Trade Mark Applications (1 November 2013)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/NOTICE_NUMBERING_MRCH_15.pdf\">Notice on Numbering of Trade Mark Applications (11 March 2015)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-Size-Restrictions-Applicable-to-Images-1.pdf\">Notice on Size Restrictions Applicable to Images Accompanying New Figurative Trade Marks Lodged Electronically (11 November 2015)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-Obtaining-Copies-of-Trade-Mark-Related-Documents-Electronically-21-March-2016.pdf\">Notice on Obtaining Copies of Trade Mark Related Documents Electronically (21 March 2016)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-Issuing-of-Renewal-Reminder-Notices.pdf\">Notice on Issuing of Renewal Reminder Notices (27 July 2016)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-Issuing-of-Official-Actions.pdf\">Notice on Issuing of Official Actions (30 August 2016)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-11th-Edition-of-NICE-Classification.pdf\">Notice on 11<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition of NICE Classification (24 November 2016)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-Issuing-of-Notices-of-Acceptance.pdf\">Notice on Issuing of Notices of Acceptance (5 June 2017)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-the-Examination-Guidelines-on-Trade-Mark-Applications.pdf\">Notice on the Examination Guidelines on Trade Mark Applications (28 February 2017)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-the-Examination-Guidelines-on-Trade-Mark-Applications-Version-2.pdf\">Notice on the Examination Guidelines on Trade Mark Applications &#8211; Version 2 (30 October 2017)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-11th-Edition-Version-2018-of-NICE-Classification.pdf\">Notice on 11<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition (Version 2018) of NICE Classification (12 December 2017)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-CIPC-IP-Online-Enhancements.pdf\">Notice on CIPC IP Online Enhancements (21 December 2017)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/NOTICE_1_18_E-FILING_TMK_RENEWALS.pdf\">Notice on Operational E-Filing for Trade Marks: Renewals and Restorations (31 January 2018)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-11th-Edition-Version-2019-of-NICE-Classification.pdf\">Notice on 11<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition (Version 2019) of NICE Classification (25 February 2019)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-the-Examination-Guidelines-on-Trade-Mark-Applications-Version-3.pdf\">Notice on the Examination Guidelines on Trade Mark Applications &#8211; Version 3 (20 March 2019)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-the-Examination-Guidelines-on-Trade-Mark-Applications-Version-3A.pdf\">Notice on the Examination Guidelines on Trade Mark Applications &#8211; Version 3A (6 August 2019)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-the-Operational-Requirements-in-respect-of-Electronic-Lodgement-of-Caveats.pdf\">Notice on the Operational Requirements in respect of Electronic Lodgement of Caveats (28 November 2019)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Notice-on-11th-Edition-Version-2020-of-NICE-Classification.pdf\">Notice on 11<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition (Version 2020) of NICE Classification (13 December 2019)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/PRACTICE_NOTE_6_21_CONV.pdf\">Notice on the Operational Requirements for the Electronic Lodgement of Lodging of Trade Mark Priority (Convention) Documents, either with or without Power\/s of Attorney (9 March 2021)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/PRACTICE_NOTE_5_21_GPA.pdf\">Notice on the Operational Requirements for the Electronic Lodgement of Trade Mark Requests for Allocation of General Powers of Attorney (GPA) Numbers (24 February 2021)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/PRACTICE_NOTE_4_21_EXT_OPP.pdf\">Notice on the Operational Requirements for the Electronic Lodgement of Trade Mark Requests for 1<sup>st<\/sup>\u00a0Extensions of Time to Oppose Trade Marks Applications (9 March 2021)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/PRACTICE-NOTE-3-21-EXT-PROSEC-002.pdf\">Notice on the Operational Requirements in respect of the Electronic Lodgement of Requests for Extensions of Time to Prosecute Trade Mark Applications (24 February 2021)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/PRACTICE_NOTE_2_21_MAINT.pdf\">Notice on Issuing of Trade Mark Notifications of Alterations (Amendments) (24 February 2021)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/PRACTICE_NOTE_1_21_NICE_V21.pdf\">Notice on the 11<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition (Version 2021) of the NICE Classification (24 February 2021)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/NOTICE-1-OF-22-002-1.pdf\">Notice on the 11th Edition (Version 2022) of the NICE Classification (20 January 2022)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PRACTICE_NOTE_2_22__CERTIFICATES.pdf\">Notice on issuing of Trade Mark Certificates (12 April 2022)<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/PRACTICE_NOTE_2_22__CERTIFICATES.pdf\"><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Practice-note-Nice-23-signed.pdf\">Notice on the 12th Edition (Version 2023) of the NICE Classification (31 January 2023)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Publishing-Team-CIPC-May-1-2023-\u2013-May-8-2023.pdf\">Notice on Trade Mark Requests for Certified Extracts (31 July 2023)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Practice-note-signed.pdf\">\u00a0Notice on the 12th Edition (Version 2024) of the NICE Classification (6 December 2023)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Practice-note.pdf\">Notice on the 12th Edition (Version 2025) of the NICE Classification (20 January 2025)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NOTICE-2-25-AI-SEARCH-TMK-signed.pdf\">Notice on trade mark A.I. image search functionality and increase of commercial trade mark e-searching fees (26 August 2025)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Practice-note-13-26-signed.pdf\">\u00a0Notice on the 13th Edition (Version 2026) of the NICE Classification (9 December 2025).<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GUIDELINES AND PRACTICE NOTES GUIDELINES Guidelines on the Examination of Trade Mark Applications &#8211; Version 3A (August 2019) PRACTICE NOTES: &nbsp; Patent stakeholders: electronic issuance of digital patents and patents of addition 1 February 2026 Guidelines with Regard to the Lodging of Non-Traditional Trade Marks (1 January 2009) Notice on Electronic Lodgement of Priority Documents [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":1423,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4766","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4766"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23393,"href":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4766\/revisions\/23393"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cipc.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}