Published: July 2026
The Trademark Office in the Kurdistan Region has introduced a new regulation increasing the protection period for registered trademarks to 15 years.
The extended term will apply to all trademark applications filed after the regulation takes effect. It will also cover pending applications where the registration certificate had not yet been issued as of the effective date.
Accordingly, trademarks falling within the scope of the new regulation will remain valid for 15 years from the date of registration, subject to the applicable renewal requirements.
Trademarks registered before the implementation of the new regulation will continue to be governed by the protection terms applicable at the time of their registration.
Key Points
- Newly filed trademark applications will be granted a 15-year protection period from the registration date.
- Pending applications for which registration certificates have not yet been issued will benefit from the new 15-year term once registered.
- Eligible trademark registrations may be renewed for further 15-year periods in accordance with the procedures and official fees prescribed by the Trademark Office.
- Existing registrations issued under the previous system will remain subject to their original validity periods.
This development provides trademark owners with a longer protection cycle and may reduce the frequency of renewal formalities. Businesses and rights holders with trademark portfolios in the Kurdistan Region should review their filing and renewal strategies in light of the updated framework.
For further information or assistance with trademark registration, prosecution or renewal in the Kurdistan Region, please contact ATB Intellectual Property at [email protected] or visit www.atb-ip.com