Libya's Unconventional Trademark Practice Changes

عربي

Two main updates took place recently in Libya:

1. Revocation of Trademark applications filed during the suspension period between April 2, 2024 and September 2, 2024. As a result: a) All acceptance notices issued during the closure period have been withdrawn and b) Appeals against rejected applications, which were previously denied due to conflicts with trademarks filed during the suspension period, are now accepted. Trademark owners will need to reassess their legal positions and may need to reapply.

2. There has been a substantial increase in trademark renewal fees for foreign trademark holders—by an unconventional amount of $2,000 per year for a single trademark in one class. In contrast, fees for local Libyan companies will now be determined based on the assessed value of the trademark. This value is calculated as 5% of the trademark's book value, as reflected in the company's most recent audited balance sheet. This is a unique approach not seen anywhere else in the world.

We will continue to monitor this situation closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.