Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 13. Regulation › Trademarks, patents and industrial property

Trademarks, patents and industrial property

Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Status: Stable

ONAPI registers marks for 10 years, renewable, and patents last 20 years from filing with limited extra time for delays. A one class word mark costs about RD$6,930 in official fees. Marks unused for three years can be cancelled, and willful counterfeiting carries six months to three years in prison and 50 to 1,000 monthly minimum salaries.

USD figures use the Banco Central de la República Dominicana reference selling rate of RD$60.9007 per US dollar, as shown on its home page on 30 October 2026, rounded to the cent.

Key facts

Trademark term	10 yearsLey 20-00 art. 81, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Patent term	20 yearsLey 20-00 art. 27, Ley 424-06, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Non use cancellation period	3 yearsLey 20-00 art. 93, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Word mark, one class, official fees	6930 DOPONAPI guide Rev. 10, as of 2025-07-30 · in force

The rule

1. A patent lasts 20 years from filing, with one extension of up to three years for an unreasonable delay at the office, or for a pharmaceutical marketing approval delay beyond two years and six months.Ley 424-06 de Implementación del DR-CAFTA, art. 2, restating Ley 20-00 art. 27, 2006-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. Patent annuities start before the third year counted from filing, with six months of grace and a surcharge.Ley 20-00 sobre Propiedad Industrial, art. 28, 2000-05-08 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. Designs last five years from filing, extendable twice by five years.Ley 20-00 sobre Propiedad Industrial, art. 67, 2000-05-08 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. A mark lasts 10 years from grant and renews for 10 years each time, within six months before expiry or six months of grace with a surcharge, with a sworn statement on use.Ley 20-00 sobre Propiedad Industrial, art. 81 to art. 83, 2000-05-08 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. Anyone interested can cancel a mark not used in the country for three uninterrupted years. The action is unavailable in the first three years from registration, and justified reasons count.Ley 20-00 sobre Propiedad Industrial, art. 93, 2000-05-08 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. Use means goods or services placed on the national market in normal quantity. Exports from the country also count.Ley 20-00 sobre Propiedad Industrial, art. 94, 2000-05-08 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. Licenses need no registration to be valid. Recording is optional, for public notice, and free of fee.Ley 424-06 de Implementación del DR-CAFTA, art. 19, restating Ley 20-00 art. 90, 2006-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-30

8. A trade name registration is declaratory, lasts 10 years, renews, and creates a presumption of good faith. It does not replace the Registro Mercantil.Ley 20-00 sobre Propiedad Industrial, art. 116, 2000-05-08 official text · verified 2026-10-30

9. Fees are RD$5,720 for filing, RD$1,210 for basic one class word mark publication, RD$1,645 for mixed mark publication, and RD$1,355 per class for claiming priority.
Cost to do it: Word mark, one class: RD$6,930 (US$113.79)ONAPI Guía de Servicios de Signos Distintivos, Rev. 10, Trademark table, 2025-07-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

10. Willful use of a mark without consent, and related conduct, costs six months to three years in prison and 50 to 1,000 monthly minimum salaries.Ley 424-06 de Implementación del DR-CAFTA, art. 26, restating Ley 20-00 art. 166, 2006-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-30 · changed: Ley 424-06 raised the range from three months to two years and 10 to 50 minimum salaries.

11. A civil action lapses two years from knowledge of the breach or five from the last act, whichever is first.Ley 20-00 sobre Propiedad Industrial, art. 172, 2000-05-08 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Step by step

Search ONAPI and the Registro Mercantil.
File by class under the Nice system.
Register a trade name separately if you need it.
Record use evidence every year.
Set a renewal diary for 6 months before expiry.
Register marks with Customs for border checks.

Common traps

The ONAPI copy of Ley 20-00 is the 2000 text. Ley 424-06 changed many articles, including 27, 90 and 166. Read both.
Art. 83 needs a sworn statement of use on renewal, so keep the evidence.
Chamber name registration is not trademark protection.
Fees can change; the guide is Rev. 10 of 30 July 2025.
Check priority periods before filing a foreign mark; a priority claim costs RD$1,355 per class.

Sources

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