Protect the work behind the innovation.

A guide for applicants

Patent Registration in Iraq

Patent protection helps inventors and businesses protect their technical innovations. For applicants seeking protection in Iraq, understanding the governing legislation and available filing routes is an important first step.

Governing Laws and Legislation

Iraq’s patent framework is based on Law No. 65 of 1970 on Patents and Industrial Designs, as amended. Significant amendments include Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 81 of 2004 and Law No. 58 of 2015, which entered into force in January 2016.

The 2004 amendments expanded the law’s scope to include undisclosed information, integrated circuits and plant varieties alongside patents and industrial designs.

What Can Be Patented?

An invention must generally meet three requirements to qualify for patent protection in Iraq:

• Novelty: the invention must be new.
• Inventive step: it must involve an inventive step.
• Industrial applicability: it must be capable of industrial application.

Eligibility also depends on the statutory exclusions and the application satisfying the relevant disclosure requirements.

Filing a Patent Application in Iraq

Applicants may seek protection through a direct national application or, where applicable, through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Iraq became a PCT contracting state on 30 April 2022. The PCT route allows applicants to pursue protection in Iraq through national-phase entry following an international application. The Iraqi Patent Office examines the application under the applicable national requirements.

PCT National-Phase Requirements

The ordinary deadline for entering the Iraqi national phase is 31 months from the priority date. An Arabic translation of the required application documents must be submitted within the applicable deadline.

Applicants who do not reside in Iraq must appoint a patent attorney or agent registered before the Iraqi Patent Office. Additional documents may be required depending on the application and the applicant’s circumstances.

Duration of Patent Protection

The amended law provides for a 20-year patent term measured from the application’s filing date. Maintaining protection requires compliance with the applicable legal requirements, including payment of prescribed maintenance fees.

Discuss Your Patent Filing in Iraq

Before filing, applicants should confirm the appropriate filing route, relevant deadlines and required supporting documents.

Contact Ekram AlHaq IP to discuss your invention and the requirements for seeking patent protection in Iraq.

This overview provides general information. Requirements should be checked against the circumstances of each application.