Kurdistan-Iraq: Return to 15-Year Trademark Protection Period

 

Following a directive from the Kurdistan Council, the Directorate of Trademarks in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has ceased enforcing the 10-year protection term and has restored the 15-year protection period.

  • The 10-year term, introduced under CPA Order No. 80 of 2004, was never formally ratified by the Kurdistan Parliament.
  • With this step, the Directorate has reverted to the 15-year period established under the amended Trade Marks Act No. 21 of 1957.
  • As the regional parliament is currently suspended, this 15-year framework will remain in effect as a binding administrative directive until the parliament is reinstated and a final statutory decision is made.
  • All newly issued certificates of registration and renewal will explicitly reflect the restored 15-year protection period.
  • Certificates previously issued under the old rule will retain their stated 10-year term, but will become eligible for the expanded 15-year protection period upon renewal.

 

For files in Kurdistan-Iraq approaching renewal, the distinction between the old and new protection periods should be accurately communicated to clients.