The first: is it properly legalised, with the legalisation dates in order? The second: what does it actually authorise?
In one long-standing client file this year, the POAs on record turned out, on a close reading, to be limited to opposition proceedings. They did not authorise trademark registration procedures before the Baghdad office. A new filing needed a new POA that expressly covers registration.
The Registrar's attention to this is real. In August 2026, in a Kurdistan renewal file, we asked for a new POA from the owner and told the agent that the Trademarks Registrar had recently become very strict in reviewing and verifying Powers of Attorney. In the Baghdad filing, we advised that proceeding on a POA that does not grant the necessary authority could put the application at risk if the Registrar notices.
When you ask whether a POA can be used, tell us what it is for:
- New filing or renewal
- Recordal of assignment or change
- Collecting certificates
- Opposition or court proceedings
And ask us to check the wording of the authority, not only the dates.
Unsure about a POA for Iraq or Kurdistan? Send it over and we will check both points.