Lebanon (LB)
Aug 22, 2018 (Newsletter Issue 14/18)Procedures for Recordal of Assignments and Mergers RevisedThe Trademark Office in Lebanon informed on revised procedures related to the recordal of assignments and mergers.
All requests for recordal of assignments and mergers need now to be filed with the original certificate of registration as of June 29, 2019. Before a simple declaration attesting the recordal was sufficient.
Source: JAH & Co. IP, Qatar Apr 15, 2015 (Newsletter Issue 6/15)Legalisation of PoA NeededLebanon declared a revision of the power of attorney requirements on March 21, 2015. The memo, issued by the Ministry of Economy and Trade, stated that all power of attorney submissions for handling all intellectual property related cases after April 10, 2015 must be legalised by the Lebanese consulate. The Lebanese consulates abroad will provide legalisation services for documents. Applications filed prior to the aforementioned date will not be affected.
The new requirements will be effective on April 10, 2015 for local Lebanese clients. However, for all foreign companies (non-Lebanese) the requirements of the power of attorney legalisation up to a Lebanese consulate abroad will be effective on May 1, 2015.
Source: JAH & Co. IP, Qatar and Fady J. Sarkis, Lebanon Mrz 12, 2013 (Newsletter Issue 3/13)New Trademark Filing SystemThe Ministry of Economics and Trade, the General Directorate of Economic and Trades, and the Intellectual Property Protection department - Trademarks Division, in attempt to develop the trademarks registration procedure, has adopted a new online filing system as of February 2013.
Accordingly, no more hard copies are required to be submitted in order to obtain a filing date and a filing number; however, the new system has added new requirements, which are identified below:
- Applicant details must be entered in Arabic characters and English characters;
- Applications should include Arabic transliteration of the trademark;
- Trademark name and design must be supplied as PDF file even if it is a word mark, and
- Full name and capacity of the signatory on the power of attorney (PoA) must be clearly indicated on the application.
The new system, which is available twenty four hours through the whole week allows for the Lebanese citizens, companies and local agents to file their trademark applications and check their status online, while the original documents should be filed at a later stage.
Source: NJQ & Associates and JAH & Co. IP, Doha, Qatar Sep 27, 2012 (Newsletter Issue 14/12)10th Edition of Nice ClassificationThe Lebanese Trademark Office has recently shifted its trademark classification system from the 9th edition to the 10th edition of the Nice International Classification for Goods and Services, which entered into force on January 1, 2012.
Source: JAH & Co. IP, Doha, Qatar, www.sabaip.com Legal basis is the Laws and Systems of the Commercial and Industrial Property in Lebanon Resolution No. 2385, issued on January 17th, 1924, amended by the Law of of 31 January 1946, Decree No. 245 of February 23rd, 1983. Law No. 152 / L R of July 19, 1939
Lebanon is a member of
- Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
- Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False or Deceptive Indications of Source on Goods, London Act.
- Nice Agreement for the International Classification of Goods and Services.
Trademark protection is obtained by registration.
Nice classification, 11th edition
There are no restrictions regarding the coverage of a trademark to certain goods (as for example beers, alcoholic beverages, pork meat, etc.).
Registrable as a trademark are all distinctive and graphically representable signs, such as words, names in distinctive forms, acronyms, letters, numbers, devices, emblems, colours, three-dimensional forms and any combination of the mentioned signs.
The following trademark types are registrable: commercial and industrial marks, service marks, collective marks
The application is filed at the Lebanese IP Protection Office.
An application can include goods and/or services in any number of classes, but a separate sum of official fees is to be paid for each class.
Foreign applicants need a local agent.
The power of attorney needs to be legalised by the Lebanese consulate.
The application process includes a formal examination, an examination of distinctiveness and as to whether it is contrary to the public order and morals or representing national or foreign decorations and an identical search for prior trademarks. However, the trademark office may not reject applications on relative grounds.
The processing time from first filing to registration or first office action is approx. 2 weeks. Once a trademark is accepted a payment order for registration and publication fees is issued.
The trademark is deemed registered upon returning the payment receipt to the Lebanese IP Protection Office. Accordingly, the applicant or agent receives the registration number and date of the trademark.
After registration, the trademark is published in the official gazette within a period of 3 to 4 months.
National:
The nature of the Lebanese registration system is a deposit system; there is no opposition period during the registration process. Cancellation actions can be raised at competent courts after registration of a trademark.
A trademark registration is valid for 15 years from date of registration. It is renewable for periods of 15 years.
Practical details on grace periods for trademark renewals are available in our publication
herePractical details on trademark use requirements are available in our publication
hereThe official fees from filing through to registration of a straight-forward application is min. USD 374 for the 1st class, and min. USD 183 for each additional class provided that the mark is published in black and white. Extra fees are incurred for long lists of goods/ services and for colored publication of the mark.
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Practical details on trademark licensing are available in our publication
here.
Sep 06, 2019
Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property, Beirut, Lebanon
Mrz 29, 2018
JAH & CO. IP, Doha, Qatar
Okt 22, 2013
Fady Sarkis - Law Office, Beirut, Lebanon
Jun 21, 2013
ST&P Attorneys and Agents, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Aug 17, 2011
Grant Thornton Yafi & Co., Beirut, Lebanon