The current trademark regulations in Lebanon are mainly based on the "707 Law" issued on December 9, 2005. The Lebanese Trademark Office is responsible for managing trademark affairs and the official language is Arabic. Trademark registration is not mandatory, but in order to protect the trademark or renew it, it must be registered in accordance with the law. Lebanon adopts the principle of 'use first'. Lebanon is a contracting party to international intellectual property treaties such as the Nice Agreement, TRIPS Agreement, WIPO Convention, and Paris Convention, and has not yet joined the Madrid System. Therefore, trademark registration can only be processed through "single country registration".
The Lebanese trademark is valid for 15 years after registration, starting from the date of registration; Renewal can be processed within one year before the expiration date, with a grace period of three months; The renewal period is 15 years. The invalidation or revocation application after trademark registration can generally be filed based on the following reasons: 1. Conflict with prior trademarks, such as ownership of prior registered trademarks or prior use of unregistered trademarks; 2. Trademarks are descriptive; 3. The trademark lacks distinctiveness; 4. The trademark has adverse effects; 5. Well known trademark; 6. Malicious registration; 7. Conflict with other prior rights, such as trade name rights, design rights, copyrights, personal names, etc; 8. Common name; 9. Geographical indications; 10. Unauthorized use of logos; 11. Violating public order and good customs. The application for invalidation or revocation of a trademark must be submitted to the court within 5 years after registration, while "malicious registration" is not subject to this time limit.
At present, the Lebanese Trademark Office adopts the Nice classification of goods and services descriptions and accepts applications for multiple categories in one form. The elements that can be registered as trademarks in Lebanon include: text, name, graphics, three-dimensional identification, color combination, slogan, appearance, etc. If the applicant does not reside in Lebanon, they must entrust a specialized agent in their home country to handle the matter. The basic materials required for trademark application are: 1. Trademark design; 2. Specific product/service items; 3. Name and address of the applicant; 4. Power of attorney for notarization and authentication; 5. For those who request priority, proof of priority and corresponding Arabic translations must be provided. The main process for applying for registration of a Lebanese trademark is: application, examination, approval, issuance, and announcement. After about one week of application submission, the application will be accepted. The Lebanese Trademark Office will conduct formal and substantive examinations. If the examination fails, a rejection notice will be issued and the applicant will be required to respond within the time limit specified in the rejection notice (usually not rejected for relative reasons). After the examination is passed, the registration will be approved and a registration certificate will be issued; If everything goes smoothly, it will take about six months for Lebanese merchants to register. There is currently no objection procedure in Lebanon, and anyone who believes that a registered trademark has infringed their rights can file an invalidation or revocation application against the registered trademark to protect their trademark rights.
How about your trademark application success rate? We will provide you with sophisticated trademark research which will enable you to ensure the success of your trademark registration.
Our monitoring system tracks trademark registrations in over 100 countries simultaneously and provides timely alerts.
Hire our local trademark attorneys to file your trademark for registration. Take advantage of our simple, fast and efficient process.
Our attorneys will prepare and file a renewal application for your trademark to ensure your trademark is protected for the next 10 years.
Explore some of the most popular and exciting destinations around the world. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural experiences, these countries offer something for everyone
