In Iraq, trademark registration is mandatory to obtain rights over a trademark, because it is a “first to file” jurisdiction. Only in some exceptional cases can an unregistered trademark be protected. It is also important to note that a trademark does not need to be in use in Iraq in order to be registered.
A registered trademark in Iraq also grants protection in the region of Kurdistan. However, since Kurdistan has its own trademark office, in practice it is recommended that, if protection in Kurdistan is specifically important, you also register the mark directly in Kurdistan.
Trademark search reports in Iraq are normally carried out for marks written in the Latin alphabet and will only consider other trademarks in the Latin alphabet. If you wish to search a mark written in Arabic and include results in Arabic, you should contact us; additional fees will apply. Likewise, if you wish the figurative or design elements of your trademark to be considered in a Trademark Search Report for Iraq, please contact us directly so we can confirm whether this service is available and under what conditions.
If you register a combined trademark (with both word and figurative elements), your exclusive rights will cover only the exact configuration as filed and registered. If you want to use the word and logo elements separately, it is advisable to file separate trademark applications for each element you wish to protect on its own.