Country Data
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | The Republic of Iraq |
| Capital | Baghdad |
| Area | 435,050 sq. km |
| Population | 47,020,774 (2025 estimate) |
| Official Language | Arabic and Kurdish |
| GDP | US$254.367 billion (2025 estimate) |
| Currency | Iraqi Dinar |
| Work Days | Sunday – Thursday |
Conventions/ Treaties
- Paris Convention (effective since January 24, 1976)
- WIPO Convention (effective since January 21, 1976)
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (effective since April 30, 2022)
- Singapore Treaty (effective since November 29, 2014)
- Marrakesh VIP Treaty (effective since July 23, 2024)
Iraq is not currently a member of the Madrid Protocol, Berne Convention or Hague Agreement
National Legislation
- Law No. 21 of 1957 on Trademarks and Trade Names, as amended by Law No. 9 of 2010 and subsequent amendments.
Basic Information
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Creation of rights | Registration-based system; first-to-file principles generally apply. |
| Basis for filing | Intent to use is acceptable; prior use is not generally required for filing. |
| Well-known marks | Special protection is available. Nevertheless, local registration of the mark is highly recommended. |
| Types of marks | Trademarks, service marks, collective marks and other distinctive signs. |
| Priority | 6-month priority claim under the Paris Convention. |
| Madrid System | Not available – Iraq is not a member of the Madrid Protocol. |
| Filing system | Multi-class filing is available. |
| Classification | Nice Classification. |
| Who can be Applicant | (1) Corporate/business entities and (2) individuals. |
| Examination | On formal, substantive and relative grounds. |
| Publication | In the Official Gazette/Trademark Bulletin. Accepted applications are published in three consecutive issues. |
| Opposition period | 90 days from the date of the last publication. |
| Duration of registration | 10 years from the filing date – renewable for further periods of 10 years each. |
| Renewal grace period | 6 months, subject to payment of the applicable late fee. |
| Use requirement | A trademark registration may become vulnerable to cancellation in case of non-use for a period of 3 consecutive years. |
| Registration timeframe (straightforward case) | Approximately 12 to 18 months. |
Search
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Search | Available for word and device marks. |
| Scope of search | Includes registered and pending trademark records. |
| Turnaround time | 2-4 working days |
Ways to obtain protection
- Filing of national application with or without priority claim under the Paris Convention.
Documentary Requirements
New Applications
-
Power of Attorney from the applicant, duly legalized up to the Iraqi Consulate.
-
A copy of the applicant’s commercial registration/incorporation document, where applicable.
-
A representation of the trademark.
-
A certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
Renewal of Registration
-
Power of Attorney from the trademark owner, duly legalized where required.
-
A copy of the certificate of registration of the mark.
-
Renewal application and prescribed fees.
Change of Name / Address Recordation
-
Power of Attorney stating the new name/address of the trademark owner.
-
Change of Name/Address document.
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A copy of the certificate of registration of the mark.
Assignment Recordation
-
Power of Attorney from the Assignee, duly legalized where required.
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Deed of Assignment, duly signed by both the assignor and assignee.
-
A copy of the certificate of registration of the mark.
Merger Recordation
-
Power of Attorney from the surviving entity.
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Merger document.
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A copy of the certificate of registration of the mark.
License Recordation
-
Power of Attorney from the Licensor and the Licensee.
-
License agreement, duly signed by both parties.
-
A copy of the certificate of registration of the mark.
National Legislation
- Law No. 65 of 1970 on Patents and Industrial Designs, as amended by Law No. 5 of 2002, CPA Order No. 81 of 2004 and Law No. 58 of 2015
Ways to obtain patent protection:
- National Filing in Iraq
- Convention application under the Paris Convention
- PCT Application
- PCT national phase application
Basic Information
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Claims admissible for | 1) Process; and 2) Product |
| Novelty requirement | Absolute novelty. |
| Convention priority | Available (12 months). |
| PCT national phase entry deadline | 30 months from the priority date. |
| Search | Available through the Iraqi patent registry and international databases. |
| Examination | With respect to form, novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. |
| Publication | Patent applications are published in accordance with the applicable patent regulations. |
| Opposition period | As provided under the applicable patent procedures. |
| Protection term (patent) | 15 years from the date of application, subject to annual renewal fees. |
| Protection term (utility model) | Not separately available under the current legislation. |
| Annuity payment | Annual renewal fees are payable to maintain the patent. |
| Grace period for late annuity payment | Subject to the applicable regulations and surcharge. |
| Working/Compulsory License | Compulsory licensing provisions are available under the Patent Law. |
| Patent grant timeframe (straightforward case) | Approximately 3 to 5 years |
Requirements
-
Patent specification, claims, drawings (if any), and abstract.
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Applicant’s details.
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Inventor’s details.
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Certificate of incorporation or commercial registration document related to the applicant company.
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Assignment of invention rights, where the applicant is not the inventor.
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Power of Attorney, where applicable.
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A duly certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
-
For PCT national phase applications, the following items would also be required:
-
A copy of the PCT application.
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International publication and relevant PCT documents.
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Arabic translation of the application documents, where required.
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Power of Attorney appointing a local Iraqi patent agent, where required.
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Iraq became a PCT Contracting State on April 30, 2022.
National Legislation
- Law No. 65 of 1970 on Patents and Industrial Designs, as amended.
Ways to obtain protection for design:
- National filing in Iraq
- Application with priority claim under the Paris Convention
Basic Information
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Types of designs | Industrial designs and models. |
| Novelty | Novelty is a prerequisite for designs to be afforded registration. |
| Multiple figures | Each industrial design must generally be the subject of a separate application. |
| Convention priority | 6-month priority may be claimed. |
| Locarno Classification | Classification is applied under the relevant Iraqi regulations. |
| Examination | Industrial design applications are examined for compliance with the applicable legal requirements. |
| Publication | Accepted and registered designs are published in the relevant Industrial Property Bulletin. |
| Opposition | The applicable law provides for examination and appeal procedures; no separate opposition period comparable to trademarks is specified. |
| Protection term | 7 years from the issue of the certificate, subject to payment of the prescribed annual renewal fees. |
| Annuities | Annual renewal fees are payable. |
| Registration timeframe (straightforward case) | Approximately 1 to 2 years. |
Requirements
- Representations (drawings/photographs) of the design.
- Certificate of incorporation or commercial registration document related to the applicant company.
- Assignment deed executed by the creator in favor of the applicant, if the applicant is not the creator.
- Power of Attorney, where applicable.
- A duly certified copy of the priority document, if priority is claimed.
National Legislation
- Law No. 3 of 1971 on Copyright, as amended by CPA Order No. 83 of 2004
Basic Information
- Works protected: The Iraqi Copyright Law protects original literary, artistic and scientific works, including books and other written works; computer programs; lectures, speeches and sermons; drawings, paintings, engraving, sculpture and architecture; dramatic and musical works; photographic and cinematographic works; radio and television works; maps, charts and scientific models; sound recordings; and compilations of data.
- Exceptions to copyright protection: Copyright protection does not extend to mere ideas, procedures, methods of work, mathematical concepts, principles and abstract facts.
- Duration of copyright: Copyright protection generally lasts for the lifetime of the author and 50 years after his/her death. Joint works are protected for 50 years after the death of the last surviving author. Certain categories, including anonymous, collective, audiovisual and computer works, are subject to separate statutory terms.
- Registration: Copyright protection arises by operation of law and registration is not required for protection.
- Registration timeframe: No registration is required for copyright protection.
Requirements
- Copies of the work.
- Name, address and nationality of the applicant.
- Nature of the applicant’s interest in the work.
- Title of the work.
- Name, address and nationality of the author.
- Power of Attorney from the applicant, where applicable.
- Assignment deed executed by the author in favor of the applicant, if the applicant is not the author.
