BAHAMAS
The Trade Marks Act of 1906 as amended provides for local trademark registrations with effect from the date of application. There is no provision for extension of registration of UK trademarks as provided in several other Commonwealth Caribbean jurisdictions, but international priority is available.
Service marks cannot be registered. No local use or intent to use is necessary prior to application but failure to use a trademark within a period of five years following registration may subject the mark to a court action for cancellation. The registration term is 14 years and is renewable for like periods.
HISTORY
The Bahamas, located in the northern Caribbean, is an independent Commonwealth Realm of the UK. Originally settled by the Lucayan Tainos people from 900-1500 AD, the Bahamas was taken over by the Spaniards after being discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1494. Throughout the end of the 1600s and the beginning of the 1700s, the majority of Bahamas’ population consisted of pirates. Because the country is surrounded by shallow waters, pirates had ample space for burying treasure. By 1718 the British wanted to gain control of the island from the pirates, allowing for loyalists to implement their presence on the island. Britain’s takeover fully pushed the remaining Spaniards out. The Bahamas finally gained independence on July 10th, 1973, making July 10th the Bahamian Independence Day. Its official language is English.
In terms of GDP per capita, the Bahamas is one of the wealthiest countries in the Americas. Tourism accounts for most of the country’s Gross Domestic Product with financial and business sectors following close behind. It is comprised of over 700 islands and cays with Nassau as the country’s capital. Cruises bring hundreds of thousands of tourists each year to the different islands, with the majority of visitors being from the United States. The Bahamas is home to Atlantis, one of the Caribbean’s most popular resorts on Paradise Island that includes one of the largest open-air marine habitats and waterparks.
