Libya

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

CLASSIFICATION

8th edition – single class application. Class 33, alcoholic goods in class 32, pork meat in class 29, and Christmas trees and related products in class 28 cannot be registered

SEARCH

Possible for word and device marks

EXAMINATION

On formal, absolute, and relative grounds

OPPOSITION

30 days from publication date

PROTECTION TERM

10 years from filing date and renewable for like periods

USE

Vulnerable to cancellation if mark has not been used for 5 consecutive years from registration date

EXTENSION OF TIME

Not possible for filing oppositions, counter oppositions, and responding to office actions

REQUIREMENTS

Filing Requirements

Legalized POA required for all of the below procedures

TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS

World Intellectual Property Organization, World Trade Organization (observer status), Berne Convention, Paris Convention, Patent Cooperation Treaty


REGISTRATION

Filing Requirements

  • Copy of priority document, if priority is claimed, certified
  • Certificate of incorporation or extract from the commercial register, legalized, with sworn Arabic translation

What you need to know

  • All original supporting documents must be submitted at the time of filing the application or recordal. Further legalization is required at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

RENEWAL

Filing Requirements

No additional documents are required

What you need to know

Grace period of 6 months

CHANGE OF NAME OR ADDRESS

Filing Requirements

  • Certificate of incorporation or extract from the commercial register, legalized, with sworn Arabic translation

What you need to know

  • May be recorded for applications and registrations

ASSIGNMENT

Filing Requirements

  • Deed of assignment, legalized, with sworn Arabic translation
  • Certificate of incorporation or extract from the commercial register of the assignee, legalized, with sworn Arabic translation 

What you need to know

  • Trademarks may be assigned with or without the goodwill of the business concerned
  • May be recorded for registrations only

MERGER

Filing Requirements

  • Certificate of incorporation or extract from the commercial register of the surviving company, legalized, with sworn Arabic translation
  • Certificate of merger, legalized, with sworn Arabic translation

What you need to know

  • May be recorded for registrations only

LICENSE

Filing Requirements

  • License agreement, legalized, with sworn Arabic translation
  • Certificate of incorporation or extract from the commercial register, legalized, with sworn Arabic translation

What you need to know

  • License recordal is not compulsory but advisable in order to be effective against third parties
  • May be recorded for applications and registrations

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

EQUIVALENT SEARCH

No provisions

EXAMINATION

As to form

PUBLICATION

Applications are not published prior to 18 months from the filing date or the earliest priority

OPPOSITION

60 days from publication date

ANNUITIES

Due annually on the anniversary of the Libyan filing date and payable after grant. 6 months grace period for late payment without a surcharge

PROTECTION TERM

15 years from the Libyan filing date

REQUIREMENTS

Filing Requirements

Legalized POA required for all of the below procedures


REGISTRATION

Filing Requirements

  • Deed of assignment from inventors, legalized
  • Extract from the commercial register or, certificate of good standing, legalized
  • Simple copy of the priority document
  • Copy of international publication (with ISR if published)
  • Copy of the specifications in both English and Arabic

CHANGE OF NAME OR ADDRESS

Filing Requirements

  • Certificate of change of name/address, legalized

ASSIGNMENT

Filing Requirements

  • Extract from the commercial register of assignee, legalized
  • Deed of assignment, legalized

What you need to know

  • Separate POAs are required from assignee and assignor

MERGER

Filing Requirements

  • Certificate of merger, legalized

LICENSE

Filing Requirements

  • License agreement, legalized
  • Extract from licensee commercial register, legalized

What you need to know

  • Separate POAs are required from licensee and licensor
  • Documents must be accompanied with a sworn English translation if made in a foreign language, and a sworn Arabic translation
  • Recordal cannot be filed except by the filing agent on PTO records

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

PROTECTION TERM

5 years from filing date

EXAMINATION

As to form only

APPLICATION WITH MULTIPLE DESIGNS AND MODELS

Admissible for up to 50 designs and models

RENEWAL

For two consecutive terms of 5 years each

LOCARNO CLASSIFICATION

No

OPPOSITION

No provisions


REGISTRATION

Filing Requirements

  • POA, legalized
  • Certificate of incorporation, legalized
  • Drawings of the design
  • Brief Description of the design
  • Copy of priority document, if priority is claimed, certified

What you need to know

  • POA must be submitted at the time of filing
  • Copy of priority document may be submitted within 3 months from filing date

Saba House, Saïd Freiha Street, Hazmieh, Beirut, Lebanon

P.O. Box 11-9421

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+961 5 45 48 88
+961 5 45 48 44
libya@sabaip.com

Office Hours
Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.