Lebanon is currently preparing a new trademark law to support the patent law which was issued last year. With this law the Lebanese government would have fulfilled some of the TRIPs obligations.
The new law will amend the period of protection of a trademark from 15 years to 10 years for registration and renewals. Currently the trademark law registers marks without examination, but the new law will enforce the examination of a mark prior to registration. This process would reduce the amount of similar trademarks on the register and would provide effective protection to the holder of a registration.
Further the new law will allow for the protection of certification, collective, sound and geographical marks. Also the new law will provide for protection of famous international marks.
The AGIP Bulletin will report to you on the approval of the law and on its becoming effective.