It took a while for service marks to catch up with trade marks. The UK’s Trade Marks and Service Marks Rules 1986 came over 110 years after we registered our first trade mark. 1986 is, of course, some time ago now, so most countries around the world have also caught up and provide service mark protection.

Suriname has been one of those exceptions. It’s trade mark legislation dates from 1912. However, parliament has now introduced service marks, allowing it to join the Bahamas and Zambia as two other countries to recently introduce service mark legislation. Nearly all countries now provide for service marks and our language has evolved that “trade mark” now encompasses also service marks.

Suriname sits at the top of South America. It is South America’s smallest country by both population and area. It is not Spanish or Portuguese speaking; the official language is Dutch. For many businesses it will be treated as part of its Caribbean market as opposed to its South American market. Suriname has particularly strong connections to the ABC Islands to its north.

It has an estimated population of slightly less than 650,000 with half of those in its capital, Paramaribo - a tricky one for a pub quiz.

Agriculture is an important part of the economy, but ecotourism is growing providing opportunities for businesses in this area, who will soon be able protect their service marks. The local population will also use things such as banking services and financial institutions operating in the country should look to protecting their marks for financial services. There is one small international airport serving the country and trade mark registration for transportation services will now be available for airlines flying in and out.

Suriname will likely only be on the radar of the most global of businesses but if you are one of them – and you provide services – you should look at protecting your service marks once the law becomes effective upon publication in Suriname’s official gazette.

Aside from filing new applications afresh, there will be the possibility to add services to existing applications or registrations. You will have nine months from when the law change is effective in which to file such requests. It will be necessary to submit evidence of use of the mark from the time of the original filing. Clarity is awaited on whether this use must be from Suriname or can be international.

A word about trade mark protection in Suriname: slow. It takes years for registrations (also renewals, assignments, changes of name, etc.) to be processed. They look at things chronologically and it is a case of waiting in the queue patiently.  On the plus side, the Registry has recently adopted a digital platform for all filings and communications which is hoped will speed things up from the former physical document system.

We have a good contact in Paramaribo who is able to assist us with matters locally, so if you wish to protect your service marks (or trade marks) in Suriname, please get in touch.