They had noticed what looked like a new service at the Trademark Office for inquiring about the availability of a mark, and asked us about it. A fair question, and one worth answering clearly.
Our answer: the so-called inquiry has no legal basis under Iraqi trademark law. The Iraqi Trademark Regulations do not provide for a separate trademark 'inquiry' application. The procedure actually provided for is the regular trademark examination/search application.
The agent then instructed a regular search, and that is the route we point clients to when clearing a mark in Iraq.
When a filing or launch decision rests on a clearance result, it is worth knowing which procedure produced it. In our advice, that is the regular application, not an informal inquiry.
Clearing a mark in Iraq:
- Budget for the regular examination/search application, not an informal inquiry.
- Define the goods and classes you actually need.
- Plan for the normal search timeline.
Want to check a mark before filing in Iraq? Send us the mark and goods and we will advise on the search.