A registration is valid for ten years and is renewable for successive ten-year periods.
When to renew
- A renewal may be filed during the year preceding the expiry date. A six-month grace period is also available after expiry, subject to the late-renewal surcharge.
- Under the law, the final day for renewing a trademark is the close of business on the day preceding its filing anniversary, so as to complete the full 365-day year. However, it has long been the practice of the Trademarks Registrar to accept renewal applications even on the filing anniversary itself.
Effect of renewal
- In a renewal we filed in March 2026, the trademark was renewed for an additional period of ten years starting from its renewal due date.
- Once a renewal is published in the Official Gazette the mark is deemed fully renewed, whether or not the renewal certificate has been issued.
What renewal requires
- A renewal needs a power of attorney legalised up to the Iraqi Embassy.
- In Iraq, submitting a renewal application for a trademark requires filing a reclassification application at the same time, converting the mark from the alphabetical classification system to the Nice Classification (11th edition); the official fees depend on the number of goods resulting from the reclassification.
Keeping the mark in force
- To rely on a trademark before the court, the trademark must still be valid and in force, so renewal is essential: during the initial hearings the court contacts the Trademark Registrar to verify its ownership and current status. To start proceedings, the trademarks must be registered in Iraq in the name of the plaintiff; trademark licences or similar arrangements are not recognised for this purpose.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a trademark registration last in Iraq?
A registration is valid for ten years and is renewable for successive ten-year periods.
What is the last day to renew a trademark?
Under the law, the final day for renewing a trademark is the close of business on the day preceding its filing anniversary, so as to complete the full 365-day year. However, it has long been the practice of the Trademarks Registrar to accept renewal applications even on the filing anniversary itself.