Kurdistan – Further clarification on the 15-year registration term

Written by Tatiana Despres

‍Further clarification has been provided on the application of the recently-introduced 15-year trade mark protection term in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with the filing date determining whether a trade mark receives 10 or 15 years of protection.

Applications filed on or after 1 January 2023 are eligible for a 15-year protection term, while applications filed before this date remain subject to the 10-year term, irrespective of when the registration or renewal certificate is subsequently issued.

The certificate of registration will reflect either a 10- or 15-year protection term, and trade mark owners should ensure that the correct renewal date is reflected in their records to avoid marks inadvertently lapsing when renewal becomes due.

This position remains subject to further development, as the 15-year term currently derives from an administrative directive rather than a published legislative amendment. Further changes may follow once the Kurdistan Parliament is formed.

We will continue to monitor the position and provide updates as further information becomes available.

Please contact us if you require assistance with your trade mark portfolio in the Kurdistan Region.

Tatiana Despres

Tatiana has been a member of the trade mark department since 2007 and has amassed over 20 years in the IP industry.  She has extensive knowledge in all matters of trade mark services, including trade mark registrations, renewals and recordals.

Her client relationship skills allow Tatiana to have a diverse client portfolio, predominately focused in Africa, South America and Caribbean regions.  This also allows her to build and maintain agent relationships, staying abreast of legislation changes and using her connections to provide timely and accurate advice for her clients.

Tatiana is a CITMA Paralegal.

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