Answer ... If an application is refused, this decision can be appealed. As per local practice, the first appeal is filed before the same authority that issued the first-instance decision. This ‘revocation recourse’, as it is known, is filed before the same examiner, so that any error or misanalysis can be corrected. Generally, however, the examiner will stand by his or her initial decision and the applicant will need to file a second appeal, called the hierarchical recourse, which is heard by a different examiner at a higher level.

Answer ... Once an application has been refused, the trademark owner can file an appeal within 10 working days. The appeal is filed before the same examiner who issued the decision under appeal and is decided within approximately 60 days.

Answer ... The revocation recourse decision, in turn, can be appealed as a hierarchical recourse to the director of the National Intellectual Property Service. The appeal entails submission of a fully argued writ within 10 working days of service of the revocation recourse. A decision is issued within approximately 120 days.