Sierra Leone - Trade Marks Regulations 2024 now officially in force

Written By Richard Stilwell

Sierra Leone’s Trade Marks Regulations 2024, published as Statutory Instrument No. 19 of 2024, are now in force, establishing a formal procedural framework for national and international trade mark practice. The Trade Marks Registry began applying the Regulations in January 2026, following years of reliance on the Trade Marks Act, 2014 without formal implementing rules.

Practical Impact

Because the Registry had long applied the substantive provisions of the 2014 Act, the practical impact is limited. The Regulations primarily formalise existing processes and introduce clearer procedural requirements.

The key changes are as follows:

1. Mandatory Use of Prescribed Forms

All trade mark‑related actions must now be filed using statutory forms. Non‑compliant filings may be rejected.

2. Defined Procedural Timelines

Structured timelines now govern:

  • examination and acceptance

  • opposition (3 months from publication)

  • counter‑statements (1 month, extendable)

  • renewals and restorations

  • appeals and hearings.

These deadlines bring predictability but require strict compliance to avoid loss of rights.

3. Madrid Protocol Procedures

The Regulations codify procedures for:

  • international applications filed through Sierra Leone

  • examination of international designations

  • provisional refusals and oppositions

  • grants or refusals of protection

  • replacement or transformation of international registrations.

4. Fees

The fee schedule in the Regulations is already in use. However, the Ministry of Finance has conducted its annual review of government fees and has mandated that publication fees now apply per trade mark.

Should you wish to receive a copy of the regulations, or require any assistance with trade mark matters in Sierra Leone, please reach out to your usual Lysaght contact or email us at admin@lysaght.co.uk.

Richard Stilwell

Richard is a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and manager in the Patents and Design department.  He is responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations of the department, as well as being part of operational working groups to develop and enhance internal policies and procedures. Richard graduated from the University of Leeds in 2012 with a Master’s degree (with Distinction) in Medicinal Chemistry, which included a placement year with a major U.K. pharmaceutical company. He joined Lysaght in 2015 and has worked in the IP industry for over ten years. In 2016 Richard was awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Intellectual Property (with Distinction) from Bournemouth University, and he became a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney in 2018. He adds a considerable skill set to the company, where he is responsible for a wide-ranging portfolio, particularly for patent cases in the Caribbean and Middle East.  In his dual role, Richard also handles prosecution and contentious matters within the trade mark department in several complex jurisdictions.

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