LAWS
The Lebanese Constitution (as amended up to September 4, 2004) (2004)
MAIN IP LAWS
Law No. 707 of December 9, 2005 amending Article 3 of Law No. 14/87 of April 5, 1987 and Article 10 of Law No. 89 of July 9, 1991 (2005)
Law No. 14/87 of May 4, 1987 on Duties and Fees due for the Publication of Trademarks and Patents in the Official Gazette. (2005)
Law No. 240/2000 of 2000 on Patents (2000)
Law No. 75 of 1999 on the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property (1999)
Law No. 69/20 of May 23, 1969 on the Rights of Creators of Musical works (1969)
IMPLEMENTATION OF RULES AND REGULATION (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY)
Decree No. 918 of November 15, 2007 on the creation and organization of work of associations and companies of collective management of copyright and related rights and how to exercise control of the Ministry of Culture and checking violations (2007)
Circular No. A/1/4 of May 25, 2006 on protection of computer programs and fight against piracy (2006)
Circular No. A/1/5 of Maz 25, 2006 on the protection of audiovisual and musical works (2006)
Circular No. A/1/6 of 25/05/2006 on the protection of literary, artistic and scientific works (2006)
Resolution No. 2002/16 of July 1, 2002 on the rights of copying and copying of computer programs by nonprofit educational institutions and academic and public libraries, (2002)
Resoluton No. 83 of December 29, 1960 on The conditions required to establish a Lebanese industry or business having a Foreign mark registered in Lebanon. (1960)
Resolution No. 392 of July 7, 1960 on Marks of products sold in Lebanon. (1960)
IP related LAWS
Law No. 89 of September 7, 1991 (Duties and Fees due to the Publication of Industrial Designs, Patents, Literary and Artistic Property in the Official Gazette) (2005)
Resolution No. 2385 of 1924 on Commercial and Industrial Property Rights (2005)
TREATY MEMBERSHIP
Brussels Convention Relating to the Distribution of Programme-Carrying Signals Transmitted by Satellite …
Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled …
Patent Law Treaty …
Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks …
Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations (August 12, 1997)
Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization (December 30, 1986)
Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (April 8, 1961)
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (September 30, 1947)
Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False or Deceptive Indications of Source on Goods (September 1, 1924)
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (September 1, 1924)
Ministry of Economy and Trade – Department of Intellectual Property
Riyad El Soleh Street, Azarieh Building
5th floor, Beirut, Lebanon
Tel + 961 1 982 379
Fax + 961 1 982 369
www.economy.gov.lb
FILING REQUIREMENTS of TRADEMARKS / SERVICE MARKS
A power of attorney revealing the name and post of the signatory of the power of attorney duly legalize dup to a Lebanese consulate abroad.
Name, address, nationality and activity of the trademark owner.
Particulars of the corresponding home trademark registration, and copy of the relevant Certificate, if any.
List of goods or services, classified according to the International Classification.
A certified copy of the home certificate of registration or an application which is required only for claiming convention priority. It can belatedly be filed within three months of the filing date.
In case of a straightforward application, the mark is registered within one week from the application date. Please note that the Lebanese Trademark Law does not provide for opposition proceedings. Once the trademark is registered, it may not be cancelled except by a final court ruling.
Time frame from filing a trademark application up to registration, on average, in the normal course of action; i.e. in case that no office action is raised by the trademark registrar or oppositions are lodged by third parties:
Filing up to Examination : 3-4 weeks
Examination up to Registration : 1-2 months
Opposition Period : N/A
Issuance of Registration Certificate : 1-2 months
Total Estimated Time Frame : 3-4 months
Renewal requirements:
A power of attorney simply signed stating the name and position of the signatory
A photocopy of registration certificate and/ or last renewal.
Time frame from filing a trademark renewal application up till issuance of the renewal certificate:
Filing up to Examination : 1-2 weeks
Examination up to renewal registration : One month
Issuance of Renewal Certificate : One month
Total Estimated Time Frame : 2-3 month
Recordal of change of owner’s corporate name:
A certificate of Change of Name (issued by the Commercial Registry or by any other
Competent authority), legalized by the Lebanese Consulate together with a sworn translation.
A power of attorney simply signed and sealed by the applicant.
Recordal of change of owner’s address:
Power of attorney showing the new address, simply signed and sealed by the
trademark owner together with a sworn translation.
Certified copy of Certificate of change of address.
Time frame needed for completing a change of name and/or address recordal:
Filing up to Examination : 1-2 weeks
Examination up to issuance of certificate of change and/or name recordal : One month
Publication to Issuance of Certificate of change and/or name Recordal :One month
Total Estimated Time Frame :1-2 months
Assignment Recordal
– A deed of Assignment signed by the trademark owner and the assignee before a
Notary Public, then legalized by the Lebanese Consulate together with a sworn translation.
– A power of attorney simply signed and sealed by the assignee.
Merger Recordal
A certificate of Merger (issued by the Commercial Registry or by any other
competent authority), legalized by the Lebanese Consulate together with a sworn translation
Power of attorney, simply signed and sealed by the applicant.
Time frame needed for completing the recordal of an assignment/merger recordal.
Filing up to Examination :1-2 weeks
Examination up to Issuance of certificate Recordal :One month
Publication to Issuance of Certificate Recordal : One month
Total Estimated Time Frame : 1-2 months
License Recordal
License agreement signed by the trademark owner and the licensee before a Notary
Public, then legalized by the Lebanese Consulate together with a sworn translation.
Power of attorney, simply signed and sealed by the trademark owner.
Time frame needed for completing a registered user/license agreement from submitting the recordal application till issuance of the user/license agreement certificate:
Filing up to Examination : 1-2 weeks
Examination up to Issuance of the user/license agreement certificate : One month
Total Estimated Time Frame till issuance of the user/license agreement certificate :1-2 months
ADDITIONAL TIME FRAMES
Time frame required for preparing and filing an opposition or counterstatement with the Trademarks Office and follow up its proceedings till final settlement:
Please be advised that the Administrative opposition procedures are not available under the Lebanese Trademarks Law. Hence, any party interested in opposing the registration of a trademark must lodge a cancellation action with the Competent Court within five years in Lebanon, if had reasons to believe that the new registration is infringing its rights
The approximately time frame to issuance the decision 1-2 years
Time frame required for preparing and filing a lawsuit of any type such as infringement or cancellation action and follow up its proceedings till final settlement:.
The approximately time frame to issuance the decision 1-2 years
Time frame required for filing an appeal with the trademarks registrar or court as applicable regarding an opposition action, counterstatement or rejection
Appeal with court, The approximately time frame to issuance the decision 1-2 years
TRADEMARK WATCH SERVICE: 1200 USD as professional charges (annual)
Patent Requirements:
Power of attorney simply signed.
Deed of assignment duly legalized up to the Lebanese Consulate in case the applicant is other from the inventor.
Certified copy of the priority document (in case convention priority is to be claimed).
3 copies of specifications, claims and drawings in English, Arabic or French.
Original power of attorney is required at the time of filing.
Design Requirements:
Power of attorney, notarized.
3 sets of the drawings of design.
Summary description of the design in triplicate.
Full particulars of the applicant.
Single application can cover several designs, but additional fees for each extra sheet. An industrial model is registrable for an initial term of 25 years starting from the registration date. The duration of a registration is extendible only once for a term of 25 years. There is a 3-month grace period for late payment with a surcharge. No annuities are due for Design during protection term to maintain their validity.
FILING REQUIREMENT
1. Power of attorney simply signed.
2- Deed of assignment duly legalized up to the Lebanese Consulate in case the applicant is other from the inventor.
3- Certified copy of the priority document (in case convention priority is to be claimed).
4- 3 copies of specifications, claims and drawings in English, Arabic or French.
Original power of attorney is required at the time of filing.
ANNUITIES
A maintenance fee is due annually on the anniversary of the filing date and is payable before the granting of the patent. There is a 6-month grace period for late payment with a surcharge.
PLEASE NOTE: Lebanese registration system is a deposit system. As such there is no examination for patent applications. The specification of the patent can be filed in Arabic, French or English
FILING REQUIREMENTS
Power of attorney, notarized.
3 sets of the drawings of design.
Summary description of the design in triplicate.
Full particulars of the applicant.
Lebanese registration system is a deposit system. Single application can cover several designs, but additional fees for each extra sheet. An industrial model is registrable for an initial term of 25 years starting from the registration date. The duration of a registration is extendible only once for a term of 25 years. There is a 3-month grace period for late payment with a surcharge.
TIME PERIOD
The registration of a design is completed within a period of 2 weeks; while the relevant registration certificate is issued within 2 weeks of the registration date.
ANNUITIES
No annuities are due for Design during protection term to maintain their validity
MEMBER OF BERNE CONVENTION
FILING REQUIREMENT
1. Power of attorney, simply signed.
2. 3 copies of the work of art
Under normal circumstances, the registration of copyright is completed within a 2-week period, while the relevant registration certificate is issued within 2 weeks of the registration date.
The protection of this law shall apply to every production of the human spirit be it written, pictorial, sculptural, manuscript or oral, regardless of its value, importance or purpose and the mode or form of its expression.