INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN LEBANON
Opposition Term |
N/A |
Registration Term |
15 Years |
First Renewal Term |
15 Years |
Subsequent Renewal Term |
15 Years |
Trademarks are provided protection under the Regulations and Systems of Commercial, Industrial, Literary, Artistic, and Musical Property in Lebanon (the 1924 law).
The trademark is in principle protected via registration at the Office of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Economy.
It follows a 'first-to-use' system, which subjects to presenting evidence of prior use of the mark in the country.
The 11th Edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks under the Nice Agreement is followed in Lebanon. Multi-class trademark applications are acceptable.
There is no provision for opposition. Trademarks are published in the Official Gazette after registration. Any interest in opposition should be dealt through cancellation before the Court.
A trademark registration is valid for fifteen (15) years from the registration date, which are further renewable for indefinite periods of ten (10) years each.
Filing a late renewal application is possible within a grace period of three (03) months from the date of expiration.
The term for cancellation of a registered trademark based on non-use is five (05) years from the date of registration. A trademark registration is cancelled only through a court action filed by a prior user requesting such cancellation.
Lebanon is a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. The nature of the Lebanese registration system is a deposit system.
A new, modern, and TRIPS compatible Patent Law was enacted on August 7, 2000, and entered into force on August 14, 2000. The Law provides patent protection for inventions and plant varieties and a sui generis protection for the layout designs of integrated circuits.
The applicant or his associate can file a patent application to the Head of the Intellectual Property Protection Authority, the Ministry of Economy and Trade.
In Lebanon, an invention that satisfies the conditions of originality, novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, subjects to patentability. Process patent and product patent are the two types of patents that can be protected.
The types of patent applications that can be filed include Non-Convention Application and Convention Application.
There is no provision for opposing the registration of a patent.
Patents are protected for twenty (20) years from the acceptance date (grant date). An annuity fee is payable on the anniversary of the acceptance date.
The time frame for payment of the renewal fee before the due date is six (06) months.
There is a grace period of six (06) months for the late renewal of a patent.
The Resolution No.2385/1924 issued on January 17, 1924 and amended by the law of 31/1/1946 - governs and deals with the mechanism of registration of industrial designs in Lebanon.
The inventor of a drawing or design or his agent or official proxy is required to send the filing application to the Director of the Protection Bureau.
The types of industrial design applications that can be filed in Lebanon include Non-Convention Application and Convention Application.
Utility model protection isn't provided under industrial design protection in the nation.
Opposition cannot be filed by a third party in Lebanon during the industrial design registration process; however, registration, an individual has the right to start an action for annulment in case he or she may give proof of the lack of novelty and the lack of individuality of the registered design.
The maximum term of industrial design protection in Lebanon is fifty (50) years provided the registration is renewed one time for a second period of twenty-five (25) years.
The first design protection of twenty-five (25) years in Lebanon is calculated from the date of registration.
There is a grace period of three (03) months for the late payment with a surcharge.
Lebanon is a signatory to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works.
A new and modern Copyright Law was enacted on April 3, 1999, and entered into force on June 6, 1999. The copyright protection originally available to literary and artistic works is now extended to computer software, video films, and all kinds of audio-visual works.
Works, sound recordings, performances, and radio or television programs can be deposited with the Intellectual Property Protection Office at the Ministry of Economy and Trade. The deposit shall constitute a presumption as to the ownership by the depositor of the work, the sound recording, the performance, or the radio or television program. Such presumption may be refuted by all available means.
The term of protection granted under this Law to the economic rights of the author is the life of the author and fifty (50) years after his death to be computed from the end of the year in which the death has been occurred.
In the case of collective and audiovisual works, the term of protection is fifty (50) years to be computed from the end of the year in which the work has been made available to the public or, failing such event, fifty (50) years from the making of such work, to be computed from the end of the year in which the work has been completed.
All economic-related rights of performers enjoy protection for a period of fifty (50) years to be computed from the end of the year in which the performance has been carried out.
The term of protection granted to the producers of sound recordings is fifty (50) years to be computed from the end of the year in which the first fixation of sound on some tangible material has taken place.
The term of protection granted to broadcasting organizations is fifty (50) years to be computed from the end of the year in which the broadcasting of their programs has taken place.
The term of protection granted to publishing houses is fifty (50) years to be computed from the end of the year in which the first publication has taken place.