Qatar, Jordan & Lebanon: Adoption of the 13th Edition
As of January 27, 2026, the Jordanian Trademark Office has officially implemented the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification for Goods and Services. This new standard applies to all upcoming trademark filings, effectively superseding the 11th Edition that was previously in use. To maintain seamless legal protection for clients rights, our team is prepared to assist in checking your upcoming filings to ensure they comply with this updated framework. It is worth noting that the Jordanian Trademarks Office generally maintains a flexible approach regarding the selection of goods and services as long as they remain within the correct class category.
Lebanon has also formally committed to the 13th Edition of the international classification system. While the adoption is official, the Intellectual Property Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy and Trade is currently finalizing its internal review of the new standards. The Intellectual Property Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy and Trade is still finalizing its internal review. Formal notices regarding the specific implementation values or fees have not been issued yet due to ongoing
strikes by public sector employees.
The Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department at the Qatar Ministry of Commerce and Industry has officially adopted the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification, effective 16 Feb. 2026. As per the Ministry’s directive, all new trademark applications and classifications of goods and services must be submitted in accordance with the 13th Edition. Applicants must also use the specific, approved terminology provided within the current version of the classification. Any application found to be non-compliant with the NCL 13 standards will be returned to the applicant for rectification and re-filing.
Tanzania: FCC Restricts Recordal to National Trademark Registrations only.
Effective January 26, 2026, the Tanzania Fair Competition Commission (FCC) has ceased accepting international registrations or those filed via the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). The FCC has formally mandated that trademark recordal is now strictly limited to trademarks registered directly with the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA). Furthermore, pending national applications do not satisfy the criteria for recordal; only fully registered national marks are eligible for submission.
This administrative change is a direct consequence of a recent Court of Appeal decision, which affirmed that ARIPO trademark registrations are currently unenforceable in mainland Tanzania. Due to this judicial precedent, ARIPO-based registrations are deemed to lack legal effect within the jurisdiction. Since the FCC requires valid trademark recordal as a prerequisite for the protection of imported goods against counterfeit activity, only BRELA-registered marks will henceforth be recognized for enforcement actions.
In light of these developments, we strongly recommend that brand owners conduct a comprehensive review of their intellectual property portfolios. To ensure uninterrupted protection and the ability to enforce rights through the FCC, it is imperative to file national trademark applications in Tanzania for all essential brands currently relying on ARIPO or international designations.
ARIPO: Amendments to the Banjul Protocol on Marks in ARIPO
Please be advised that ARIPO has approved a comprehensive revision of the Banjul Protocol on Marks, reference made through resolutions of the ARIPO Administrative Council at its 49th session, held from 17th to 20th November 2025. The approved amendments encompass the implementing regulations, prescribed forms, and official fees which shall enter into force on 1 March 2026 as per the circular No. ARIPO_BP/2025/1.
The revised framework applies to all existing and new trademark applications and registrations.
South Sudan: Updated Trademark Procedures for trademarks reservations
The South Sudan Ministry of Justice, specifically the Registrar of Companies, Business Names, Trademarks, and Partnerships, has officially simplified the trademark reservation process. Under these new guidelines, applicants are no longer required to provide a notarized Power of Attorney. Instead, the Registrar now accepts a scanned color copy of a POA that has been simply signed and sealed. Furthermore, it is no longer required to submit the physical original POA; a simple copy is enough to fulfill the reservation formalities.
Meanwhile, individuals or companies that do not have a seal can have the POA simply signed which is acceptable as well for now.
Iran: Introduction of Non-Obedience Requests in Trademark Oppositions
After filing a trademark opposition in Iran, the TMO serves a formal notification to the applicant of the cited application, a process which is legally mandated to occur within 10 days although actual timing often fluctuates based on the specific examiner’s workload. The applicant may lodge the counterstatment within 40 days from the opposition notification date, but if they accept the opposition, the trademark application is subsequently cancelled; however, should they refuse to accept the opposition without lodging an opposition, the opposing party must file a formal non-obedience request within 40 days to petition the TMO to transfer the legal case to a commission for a formal review and final decision as per Article 104 of the Industrial Property Protection Law.
Libya: Cancellation of Annual Trademark Renewals and Implementation of Mandatory Ten-Year Filing Terms
The newly appointed Director of the Libyan Trademark Office has issued a verbal directive regarding renewal filing terms which no longer accept yearly trademark renewals. According to Article 1257 and Decree No. 586 of 2024, all trademark renewals must now be filed exclusively for the full ten-year statutory period. Consequently, the previous annual fee of 2,000 USD is superseded by the mandatory ten-year renewal fee of 20,000 USD. This mandate applies to all current and previously filed renewal applications. In instances where a renewal was previously submitted for a single year or any multi-year span less than 10 years, applicants are now required to submit supplementary renewal filings. These additional submissions must cover the remaining years of the term to ensure full compliance with the ten-year requirement and issuance of renewal certificate.