A prior trademark clearance search is now a prerequisite for every trademark application submitted at the TMO before the filing particulars are issued. This new line of practice could at some point cut down the backlog of work by essentially reducing the time it takes to perform examination on relative grounds at a later stage. If the proposed trademark is found to be available following the clearance search, the application will then follow the standard registration procedure. This revised practice will not apply to Paris convention applications in order to safeguard the priority period.
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