Iraq - Updates

Patent Office (IPO)

The Iraqi Authorities had issued new regulations to amend the Patent Law, the main aspect of this amendment are as follows:

1. Extending the period of protection from 15-20 years.

2. Beginning the protection as of filing or priority date as it was from acceptance earlier.

Since the beginning of the war, no Patents’ Letters were issued in favor of any application, however, our office has received the first Patent’s Letter issued under the new regulations.

Trademark Office (ITMO)

ITMO had issued a new requirement relating to the power of attorney in respect of applications under prosecution which were filed before the war, in which it requests to submit a certified/ original power of attorney legalized up to the Iraqi Consulate in order to pursue any pending application.

A new Law will be issued shortly in which the expected changes would be amending the protection period for filing and renewal to be 10 years instead of 15. Service marks from 35-45 are going to be applied instead of 42.

The matter of boycott declaration is still under negotiations, decision has not been issued yet relating thereto.

Moreover, the procedure of re-constitution of files is still open and no deadline had been set off. It is recommended for all trademark proprietors to attend to do so in order to avoid the risk of registration of conflicting or similar new applications.