based on an infringement either of the provisions of Article 2 or 3 of this Annex, or of a prior
right belonging to the opposing party.
(2) The Organization shall send a copy of the statement of opposition to the applicant
or to his agent, who may reply, setting out his reasons, within a once-renewable period of
three months. The reply shall be forwarded to the opponent or to his representative. If his
reply does not reach the Organization by the prescribed time limit, the applicant shall be
deemed to have withdrawn his application for registration and the registration shall be
cancelled.
(3) Before taking a decision on the opposition, the Organization shall, on request, hear
each or either of the parties or their agents.
(4) An appeal from the Organization’s decision on the opposition shall lie to the High
Commission of Appeal within a period of three months from the date of receipt of notice of
the decision by the interested parties.
(5) The Organization shall only cancel the registration in so far as the aforementioned
opposition is valid.
(6) The final decision on cancellation shall be published in the official Bulletin of the
Organization.
Article 19
Duration of Rights
The registration of a mark shall be valid for only ten years from the filing date of the
application for registration; however, the ownership of a mark may be preserved indefinitely
through successive renewals of the registration, which may be effected every ten years.
Article 20
Access to Information in the Special Register
Any person may, at any time, against payment of the prescribed fee, consult the
Organization’s Special Register of Marks or request, at his own expense, information, extracts
or copies of such information.
The consultation, information, extracts or copies referred to above may relate to one
mark only.
Article 21
Renewal of the Registration of the Mark
(1) The owner of a mark may only effect the renewal referred to in Article 19 above if
he has paid the amount of fees prescribed by regulation.
(2) The amount of the fees provided for in paragraph (1) above shall be paid during the
last year of the ten-year period referred to in Article 19 of this Annex; however, a six-month
period of grace shall be allowed for payment of the said fee after the end of that year, subject
to payment also of a surcharge fixed by regulation.
(3) No changes may be made either to the mark or to the list of goods or services for
which the said mark was registered, subject to the right of the registered owner to limit the
list.
(4) Renewal of the registration of a mark shall not entail renewed examination of the
mark.