Protect the name behind your business.

Registration guide

Trademark Registration in Iraq

Protecting your brand starts with understanding where and how to register it. Ekram AlHaq IP assists local and international businesses with trademark searches, applications, renewals, and related protection matters in Iraq.

The information below explains the main features of registration through the federal Trademark Office in Baghdad. Procedures in the Kurdistan Region require separate consideration.

Legal Framework

Iraq is a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. Trademark protection is governed by Law No. 21 of 1957, as amended, including amendments introduced by Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 80 of 2004 and Law No. 9 of 2010.

The amended legislation covers trademarks and service marks, together with collective marks, certification marks, and geographical indications.

Choosing Your Goods and Services

A trademark application must identify the goods or services for which protection is requested. A carefully prepared specification helps define the scope of protection and supports the examination process.

In January 2025, the federal Trademark Office adopted the 11th edition of the Nice Classification and discontinued its former local subclassification system. Applications may cover more than one class, subject to the applicable requirements and fees.

Older applications and registrations may need to be converted to the adopted classification before registration, renewal, or certain changes to the register can proceed. We review the existing specification and advise on the required adjustments.

Preparing Your Application

Before filing, applicants should prepare their ownership details, a clear representation of the mark, and an appropriate list of goods or services. Supporting documents and legalization requirements depend on the applicant and the transaction.

For marks consisting only of Latin wording, the reported filing requirements call for an Arabic transliteration above the Latin wording in a larger type size. The proposed Arabic version should be checked carefully, particularly where the brand already uses an established Arabic name.

Some products may be subject to additional requirements. We confirm the applicable documents and artwork requirements before submission.

Examination, Publication, and Registration

Trademark applications are examined for compliance with registration requirements, including potential conflicts with earlier marks and other grounds for refusal.

Under the federal trademark law, provisionally accepted applications are published in three consecutive issues of the official trademark bulletin. Interested parties may submit a written opposition within 90 days of the final publication.

Where no opposition prevents registration and the remaining requirements are completed, the registration certificate is issued.

Protection Period and Renewal

A federal trademark registration generally provides protection for ten years from the filing date and may be renewed for further ten-year periods.

Renewal should be arranged before expiry. The amended law also permits late renewal within six months after expiry, subject to the prescribed fees and additional charges.

For registrations under the former classification system, renewal may also require conversion of the goods or services specification. Preparing early allows time to address these requirements.

Use of Your Trademark

Prior use is not generally required to apply for trademark registration. However, registration does not remove the importance of using the mark.

A registration may be challenged through court proceedings where the mark has not been used for three consecutive years, unless an applicable excuse is established. Brand owners should retain records showing use and seek advice where use has been interrupted.

Changes of Ownership and Other Recordals

Trademark portfolios should accurately reflect the owner’s details and relevant transactions. Assignments, mergers, changes of name or address, and licensing arrangements may require supporting documents and procedures before the Trademark Office.

The available procedure depends on the status of the application or registration. Older registrations may also require reclassification before a recordal can be processed.

Disputes and Brand Protection

Trademark protection extends beyond obtaining a certificate. Conflicting applications, suspected counterfeiting, and unauthorized commercial use may require further action.

Depending on the circumstances, available measures may include opposition, cancellation proceedings, or infringement action. Registrations obtained fraudulently or contrary to the law may also be challenged.

Ekram AlHaq IP assists clients in assessing the issue and identifying the appropriate next steps.

Trademarks in the Kurdistan Region

Businesses seeking protection in the Kurdistan Region should consider the procedures of the Trademark Office in Erbil separately from federal registration in Baghdad.

Practice updates reported the suspension of the previous extension procedure for Baghdad registrations and advised filing directly in Erbil. More recent updates in 2026 reported a fifteen-year protection term for qualifying Kurdistan applications and renewals.

Eligibility and transitional treatment depend on the relevant filing and registration history. We confirm the applicable procedure and protection period for each matter.

Discuss Your Trademark

Whether you are introducing a new brand, renewing an existing registration, or managing a trademark dispute, our team can help you understand the requirements and next steps.

Contact Ekram AlHaq IP: headoffice@ekramip.com

This overview provides general information. Requirements, official fees, and administrative practice may change. Advice should be obtained for the circumstances of each application or registration.