Almadar has registered and managed more than 120 national trademarks and 75 foreign trademarks, and has represented clients in trademark disputes before the commercial divisions of the Court of First Instance. This article answers the questions we are asked most often.
Why register your trademark?
A trademark is not merely a logo — it is the identity of your product and the reputation of your business. Registration gives you:
- An exclusive legal right to use the mark in Iraq.
- A basis for legal action against counterfeiters and unfair competition.
- An intangible asset that can be valued, licensed and sold.
- A prerequisite for major tenders and contracts in certain sectors.
Stages of registration
1. Preliminary search
Before filing, a search confirms that the mark is not already registered or confusingly similar to an existing one — a step that saves you the cost of an application destined for refusal.
2. Filing the application
The application is filed with a representation of the mark and the classes of goods or services for which protection is sought, under the applicable classification.
3. Publication and oppositions
After preliminary acceptance the mark is published, and third parties may oppose it within a set period. This is where legal counsel matters — responding to oppositions, or filing them in defence of your mark.
4. Certificate and renewal
Protection is complete once the certificate issues, with attention to renewal deadlines to keep it in force.
What about foreign trademarks?
We register foreign companies’ trademarks in Iraq and handle all related legal files and disputes — an essential service for any international brand entering the Iraqi market.
Practical advice: register your mark before you launch your product, not after. Many disputes begin with a successful mark that was never registered in time.
This article is for general information only and does not substitute for specialised legal advice on your situation. To ask about registering or protecting your mark, contact the Almadar team.