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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Brunei

To register a trademark in Brunei, file with the Brunei Darussalam Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) or designate Brunei through Madrid. Fees are in Brunei dollars, charged per class; you need an address for service in Brunei (no agent is compulsory); the 3-month opposition period cannot be extended, and acceptance must be confirmed within 2 months.

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Five questions first

Which route?File directly with BruIPO if you only need Brunei or have no home filing; if you already have a home application or registration and want several countries, designate Brunei through Madrid, paying Brunei's individual fee.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, an address for service in Brunei, the mark, goods or services by Nice class and a statement of use or intention to use; words in Chinese or other non-Roman scripts need an English translation, transliteration and the language.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Filing BND 150 per class and BND 6 to record the address for service; after acceptance, a BND 125 advertisement fee; no registration fee. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?BruIPO's published average is about 6 months (official statistics), longer for complex cases. Statutory: 2 months to answer an examination report, then a 3-month opposition period after advertisement, which cannot be extended.Details ↓What are the main risks?No address for service in Brunei means the application is treated as abandoned; an acceptance notice not returned within 2 months counts as withdrawal; examiners search and cite earlier marks; whole-class claims are queried; 5 years of non-use allows revocation.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Brunei: key facts

OfficeBrunei Darussalam Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO), within the Intellectual Property Division of the Attorney General's Chambers. Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawTrade Marks Act (Chapter 98, in force since 1 June 2000, Revised Edition 2022) and Trade Marks Rules (Revised Edition 2000, amended 2017); Madrid designations follow the Trade Marks (International Registration) Rules, 2018
Registration principleFirst to file; the application must state that the mark is in use or that there is a bona fide intention to use it; no evidence of use is required before registration
Madrid SystemMember of the Madrid Protocol since 6 January 2017, so Brunei can be designated through Madrid; Brunei is not a party to the Madrid Agreement, so every designation pays Brunei's individual fee, whichever office of origin you file from, and the refusal period is 18 months
Address for serviceEvery applicant must give an address for service in Brunei (Form TM 22); appointing a Brunei agent is not compulsory
Language and foreign-script marksEnglish; if the mark contains non-Roman characters, or words in a language other than English or Malay, the application form must state an English translation, a transliteration and the language
Multi-class applicationsAllowed: one application gives one registration, with fees charged per class; a series of marks can be filed in one application
Answering an examination report (statutory)Within 2 months of the written notice, reply in writing, request a hearing or amend the application, otherwise the application is refused; an extension can be requested, at the Registrar's discretion
Acceptance notice (statutory)Sign and return the acceptance notice (Form TM 27) with the advertisement fee within 2 months of receiving it, or the application is treated as withdrawn
Opposition (statutory)3 months from advertisement in the Trade Marks Journal; the Trade Marks Rules state that this period cannot be extended (for Madrid designations of Brunei, up to 4 months from advertisement)
Term and renewal (statutory)10 years, with the filing date as the registration date; renew within the 6 months before expiry, within 6 months after expiry with an additional fee, and apply for restoration within 6 months after removal
Non-use (statutory)If the mark has not been put to genuine use in Brunei within 5 years of completion of the registration procedure, or use has been suspended for 5 continuous years, without proper reasons, anyone can apply to the Registrar or the court for revocation
Examination time (official statistics)BruIPO's published average is about 6 months; complex cases take longer
Official filing feesBND 150 per class, in force since 1 June 2000; after acceptance, a BND 125 advertisement fee; no fee for the registration certificate

Checked on 2026-10-15; general information only — the office's published rules and fees prevail.

Which route

Direct filing or a Madrid designation

Both routes give protection in Brunei; they differ in the prerequisites, the fee structure, whether the opposition period can be extended and when an address for service in Brunei is needed.

ItemDirect filing with BruIPOMadrid designation of Brunei
PrerequisiteNoneA basic application or registration at your office of origin
Official feesIn Brunei dollars: BND 150 per class at filing, BND 6 to record the address for service, BND 125 advertisement fee after acceptance, paid to BruIPOBasic fee and Brunei's individual fee (per class, in Swiss francs, lowered from 2 November 2025; amounts in the WIPO fee calculator) paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); as Brunei is not a party to the Madrid Agreement, the individual fee applies whichever office of origin you file from, including offices bound by both treaties
Address for serviceRequired in Brunei from filingNot needed at filing; required (Form TM 22) to answer a provisional refusal or to defend an opposition
ExaminationAbsolute grounds examined and earlier marks searched; an examination report is answered within 2 monthsSame examination, and BruIPO may ask for an English translation and transliteration; BruIPO must issue any provisional refusal within 18 months of WIPO's notification, later if it is based on an opposition
Opposition period3 months from advertisement, no extension3 months from advertisement; the opponent can request an extension, up to 4 months from advertisement in total
When protection startsRegistered if no one opposes or the opposition fails; the registration date is backdated to the filing dateAfter examination BruIPO advertises the international registration in the Trade Marks Journal; once the 18 months or the opposition period have passed without a refusal, the mark is treated as protected
Dependency riskNoneIf the basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the Brunei designation falls with it; it can be transformed into a national Brunei application within 3 months of cancellation
Best forYou only need Brunei; you have no home filing to rely on; you want to control the pace of responses yourselfYou already have a home filing and want protection in several countries

If you are also filing elsewhere in ASEAN, see Trademark registration in Malaysia and Trademark registration in Singapore. Not sure? Run a free search first, then submit an order online; the agent will recommend a route based on the search results.

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For a direct application to BruIPO, foreign companies and individuals generally prepare the following information and documents. No evidence of use is filed with the application; signed documents such as a power of attorney follow the agent's instructions.

Applicant

  • Name and address (a company gives its name in English and its country or territory of incorporation), as complete as possible
  • A statement that the mark is being used by the applicant or with its consent, or that there is a bona fide intention to use it

Address for service

  • An address in Brunei to which BruIPO sends all correspondence; if you appoint an agent, the agent provides it and records it on Form TM 22
  • If no address for service in Brunei is given, BruIPO asks for one within 2 months; after that the application is treated as abandoned

The mark

  • A clear and durable representation attached to the application form; for a word mark, state where the word comes from and whether it is invented
  • If you claim a three-dimensional shape or a colour, say so on the application form, otherwise the mark is not treated as a shape or colour mark
  • If the mark contains non-Roman characters, such as Chinese, or words in a language other than English or Malay: state an English translation, a transliteration and the language; the Registrar may require a certified translation
  • Several versions of the same mark that differ only in non-distinctive details can be filed in one application as a series

Goods and services

  • Specific goods or services listed class by class under the Nice Classification, with the classes in numerical order
  • Do not copy class headings or claim a whole class: BruIPO states that such specifications are queried, unless you can show a genuine intention to use the mark on all of those goods

Priority

  • To claim priority from an earlier application filed abroad, file in Brunei within 6 months of that application and state the country, filing date and application number on the form
  • If the priority document (issued by the office of first filing) is not filed with the application, file it within 3 months of the Brunei filing date
How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct application with no opposition.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Earlier marks can be searched free of charge on BruIPO's website; settle the specific wording of the goods and services first

  2. Step 2

    Filing

    File Form TM 1 and pay the fee per class, recording an address for service in Brunei at the same time; the filing date is the day the documents are complete

  3. Step 3

    Examination

    BruIPO examines absolute grounds such as distinctiveness and searches earlier marks; objections come as a written notice, to be answered or taken to a hearing within 2 months (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Acceptance notice

    Once the application passes, BruIPO issues an acceptance notice (Form TM 27); sign and return it with the advertisement fee within 2 months, or the application is treated as withdrawn (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Advertisement and opposition

    Advertised in the Trade Marks Journal; the 3 months after advertisement are the opposition period, which cannot be extended (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Registration

    If no one opposes, the mark is registered with the filing date as its registration date; the certificate is a paper document, BruIPO emails you when it is ready for collection, and there is no fee

BruIPO's published average is about 6 months (official statistics); complex cases take longer. The Trade Marks Act sets no time limit for examination. The period for answering an examination report can be extended at the Registrar's discretion; if the application is refused, you can request the written grounds within 1 month of the decision and then appeal to the court.

How to read the periods: "statutory" = set by law; "official statistics" = averages published by the office; "estimate" = typical cases. Actual timing varies.

How much

Official fees

Official fees are in Brunei dollars and charged per class: BND 150 per class at filing plus BND 6 to record the address for service; after examination, a BND 125 advertisement fee; registration and the certificate are free. The table shows the current rates set in the Schedules to the Trade Marks Rules and published by BruIPO, in force since 1 June 2000 and unchanged since.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Application fee (per class)Per class150 BND≈ USD 117
Address for service in Brunei or appointment of agent (Form TM 22, per application)Per application6 BND≈ USD 5
Paid on registration
Publication fee (payable within 2 months of the notice of acceptance, Form TM 27)Per application125 BND≈ USD 98
Keeping the registration
Renewal fee (per registration, every 10 years; within 6 months before expiry, or within 6 months after expiry with an additional renewal fee)Per application200 BND≈ USD 156
Restoration fee (Form TM 9, within 6 months after removal for non-renewal, per mark; renewal fee payable in addition)Per application150 BND≈ USD 117
Other
Recordal of change of proprietor (Form TM 11, per mark)Per application65 BND≈ USD 51
Recordal of a licensee (Form TM 25, per mark)Per application50 BND≈ USD 39
Change of details of an application or registration (name, address, etc., Form TM 13, per item)Per item40 BND≈ USD 31

Source: Brunei Darussalam Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO), Trademark Forms & Fees；Trade Marks Rules (Revised Edition 2000), First Schedule item 6 and Second Schedule item 27, WIPO Lex · current fees in force since 2000-06-01 · checked on 2026-10-15 · USD figures are approximate, converted at the Bank of China spot selling rate (or, for currencies it does not quote, at the central bank's published USD rate); the official fee is the amount in the original currency

Official fees are as published by the office; the service fee is quoted by an agent after you submit, and you pay only after accepting the quote.

Example: an application covering 2 classes pays 2 × BND 150 + BND 6 = BND 306 at filing; after acceptance, the BND 125 advertisement fee (the Schedule to the Rules lists it for a single-class application; for multi-class applications the amount in BruIPO's acceptance notice applies).

Other common official fees: opposition BND 250 per case, counter-statement BND 200 per case; application for revocation, invalidation or rectification BND 225; request for written grounds BND 300; notice of attendance at a hearing BND 300.

Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

Watch out

Rules specific to Brunei and common refusals

These are the most common issues in Brunei examination, together with Brunei-specific rules that are easy to overlook.

A 3-month opposition period that cannot be extended

After a direct application is advertised, third parties have 3 months to oppose, and the Trade Marks Rules exclude this period from those that can be extended; the applicant's 3 months to file a counter-statement after receiving the grounds of opposition cannot be extended either, and missing it means the application is treated as abandoned. If someone else has filed your mark, this 3-month window is also your only chance to oppose, at BND 250 per opposition.

An acceptance notice not returned within 2 months counts as withdrawal

Once the application passes examination, BruIPO issues the acceptance notice on Form TM 27; you must complete it as instructed, sign it and return it with the BND 125 advertisement fee within 2 months, or the application is treated as withdrawn. If you use an agent, make sure the notice is passed on promptly.

No address for service in Brunei

Every applicant must have an address for service in Brunei, recorded on Form TM 22 (BND 6); if none is supplied within 2 months of BruIPO's notice, the application is treated as abandoned. Madrid designations of Brunei also need an address for service to answer a provisional refusal or to defend an opposition. A Brunei agent is not compulsory, but applicants without a local address usually use the agent's.

Translation, transliteration and language for foreign scripts

If the mark contains non-Roman characters, such as Chinese, or words in a language other than English or Malay, the application form must state an English translation, a transliteration and the language; the Registrar can require a certified translation at any time. For Madrid designations of Brunei, BruIPO can also ask for these.

Examiners cite earlier marks on their own initiative

The Trade Marks Act requires the Registrar to search earlier marks during examination, and a mark identical or similar to an earlier mark is refused on relative grounds. Signs that directly describe the quality, purpose or origin of the goods, and signs lacking distinctiveness, are refused on absolute grounds unless you can show that the mark had acquired distinctiveness through use before filing.

Whole-class claims and 5 years of non-use

At filing you declare that the mark is in use or that there is a bona fide intention to use it; BruIPO states that applications copying class headings or claiming a whole class are queried. If the mark is not put to genuine use in Brunei within 5 years of completion of the registration procedure, or use is suspended for 5 continuous years, anyone can apply to the Registrar or the court for revocation, and in proceedings the proprietor must prove use.

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After registration

Keeping the registration

A Brunei registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and is renewed at expiry; no periodic declarations of use are required, but 5 years of non-use exposes the mark to revocation, and a missed renewal deadline leads to removal from the register.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
From 5 years after completion of the registration procedureKeep the mark in genuine use in Brunei and keep evidence; after 5 years of non-use, anyone can apply for revocationNone
Within the 6 months before expiry, then every 10 yearsRenew (Form TM 7); BruIPO sends a reminder between 6 months and 1 month before expiryBND 200 per registration
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewal (Form TM 7) with an additional renewal fee; the registration is not removedBND 200 per registration plus the additional renewal fee (no amount listed in the Schedule to the Rules)
Within 6 months after removalApply for restoration and renewal (Form TM 9); the Registrar decides whether to restoreRestoration BND 150 per registration, plus the BND 200 renewal fee
Any timeRecord an assignment (Form TM 11), a licence (Form TM 25) or a change of name or address (Form TM 13)Assignment BND 65 per registration, licence BND 50 per registration, change BND 40 per item

The proprietor or a licensee of a registered mark can give written notice to the Controller of Customs asking for infringing goods under customs control to be detained; a notice is valid for up to 5 years and no longer than the registration, with the documents set out in the Trade Marks (Importation of Infringing Goods) Regulations. Online marketplaces' brand registry programmes also usually require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Brunei

How much does a Brunei trademark cost?

Official fees are in Brunei dollars and charged per class: BND 150 per class at filing plus BND 6 to record the address for service; after examination, a BND 125 advertisement fee; registration and the certificate are free. For 2 classes, for example, you pay BND 306 at filing and BND 125 after acceptance. Renewal is BND 200 per registration. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order.

How long does trademark registration in Brunei take?

BruIPO's published average is about 6 months, longer for complex cases; the Trade Marks Act sets no time limit for examination. Three deadlines are statutory: 2 months to answer an examination report, 2 months to return the acceptance notice with the advertisement fee, and a 3-month opposition period after advertisement that cannot be extended. If no one opposes, the mark is registered when the period ends, with the filing date as its registration date.

Do foreign applicants need an address or an agent in Brunei?

You need an address for service in Brunei, recorded on Form TM 22 for BND 6; if none is supplied within 2 months of BruIPO's notice, the application is treated as abandoned. Appointing a Brunei agent is not compulsory; if you use one, the agent provides the address for service. For a Madrid designation of Brunei, no address is needed at filing, but one must be given to answer a provisional refusal or an opposition.

Can I register a mark in Chinese characters or another non-Roman script in Brunei?

Yes, you can file it directly. The application form must state an English translation of the foreign-script element, a transliteration (for Chinese, for example, the Hanyu Pinyin) and the language; the Registrar can require a certified translation. In examination, the meaning is checked for descriptiveness and the mark is searched against earlier marks.

What is the difference between a Madrid designation of Brunei and a direct application?

Brunei has joined only the Madrid Protocol, not the Madrid Agreement, so every designation of Brunei pays Brunei's individual fee (in Swiss francs, lowered from 2 November 2025), whichever office of origin you file from, and BruIPO's refusal period is 18 months. The opposition period for a Madrid designation can be extended to 4 months from advertisement, while for a direct application it is fixed at 3 months; no address for service in Brunei is needed at filing, but one is required to answer a provisional refusal or an opposition. If your basic application or registration fails within 5 years, the Brunei designation falls with it and can be transformed into a national Brunei application within 3 months.

What can I do if someone has registered my mark in Brunei?

First check the stage of the other party's application. If it has been advertised and is within the 3-month opposition period, file an opposition with BruIPO (Form TM 4) at BND 250 per case; this period cannot be extended. If it is already registered, you can apply to the Registrar or the court for a declaration of invalidity, or for revocation once 5 years have passed since completion of the registration procedure without genuine use in Brunei (Form TM 18, BND 225). Brunei protects well-known marks within the meaning of the Paris Convention: even without a registration or business in Brunei, the owner of a well-known mark can ask the court to restrain its use.

Other IP rights

Patents: Brunei patents are granted by BruIPO under the Patents Act (Chapter 262) and last 20 years from the filing date, subject to annual maintenance fees; search and examination are entrusted to an external patent office. Brunei has been party to the PCT since 24 July 2012, so PCT applications can enter the Brunei national phase.

Designs: a registered design is protected for 5 years from the filing date and can be renewed twice, for 5 years each time, up to 15 years; Brunei can also be designated through the Hague Agreement (since 24 December 2013).

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

Malaysia　·　Singapore　·　Indonesia　·　Philippines

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Notice: the services described on this page are carried out by locally licensed partner firms; J&C is your point of contact and coordinates and delivers the work. Fees shown are estimates; official fees are those actually charged by the office and the final quote is confirmed by an agent. Examination times are set by each office and the outcome depends on official examination; we make no promise as to results. By submitting an order you agree that the information needed for the work is shared with the relevant partner firm (which may be outside your country). This page is general information, not legal advice.

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