Libya Trademark Update: Electronic Gazette Relaunch and Updated Trademark Law

Overview

In line with the Prime Minister’s directives to strengthen intellectual property protection and regulate the commercial environment based on modern and transparent standards, the Ministry of Economy and Trade officially launched the first issue of the 2026 Electronic Trademark Gazette on 14 May 2026. This marks the resumption of publication and official announcements after a suspension of more than 18 months.

The launch of this Gazette forms part of a broader program to develop and modernize Commercial Registry services and advance the digital transformation of commercial procedures. These efforts align with international standards for trademark protection and market regulation, while reinforcing investor and business confidence in the country’s legal and regulatory framework.

The inaugural issue includes trademark registration applications numbered from (55261) to (57597), published through the electronic announcement system available on the official website of the Commercial Registry Authority ( العلامات التجارية | مصلحة السجل التجاري ). The authority will proceed to publish 500 trademarks every five days starting from the date of this launch.

Opposition Procedure

The new system allows for the electronic submission of oppositions within the publication period. Applicants filing an opposition are required to submit the grounds in support of it within seven working days, while the objection period has been set at 30 working days from the date of publication.

The Trademark Office is the competent committee responsible for reviewing oppositions. Its decisions are typically rendered within one to four months, depending on the volume of oppositions submitted. The committee’s decisions are subject to appeal before the competent court within the legally prescribed timeframes.

Updated Trademark Law

The Trademark Office in Libya has published an updated Trademark Law. Its main provisions are outlined below:

Substantive Provisions

• Definitions
• Scope of application
• Principle of prohibiting registration due to similarity
• Rule of evaluating the trademark as a whole
• Restrictions and modifications to avoid confusion
• Protecting the famous trademark

Procedural Framework

• Examination (acceptance – conditional acceptance – rejection)
• Priority of deposit and conflict of claims
• If two parties simultaneously apply for the same trademark or similar trademarks in the same category, the procedure is suspended until one party submits a waiver, or an enforceable court judgment is issued pursuant to Article 1244.
• Procedures for filing an opposition
• Conditions for deciding on an objection
• Documentation and publication of similarity decisions

Similarity Assessment

• Criteria for evaluating the similarity between the two trademarks:
• Visual similarity
• Phonetic or verbal similarity
• Conceptual or semantic similarity
• Criteria for evaluating the similarity of goods or services:
• Nature, intended purpose, and method of use
• Trade channels and target customers

A rejection based on similarity is not complete until the similarity in the services and products offered is proven and evaluated according to specific criteria.

For a refusal to be justified, it requires both the existence of similarity between the trademarks in question and the existence of similarity between the respective goods and/or services covered by those trademarks.

• Scoring Model:
• The assessment is based on a numerical model consisting of 100 points, with a clear explanation of distribution. The score may be adjusted by up to 10 points based on defined criteria.

Appeals and Enforcement

• Appealing decisions of the Trademark Office
• Precautionary measures in cases of similarity
• Cancellation and enforcement

General and Administrative Provisions

• Adherence to international standards and compliance with international agreements
• Priority rules where criteria conflict
• Qualification and training of Trademark Office staff
• Unspecified cases

Practical Impact

The relaunch of the Electronic Trademark Gazette restores the trademark opposition process in Libya. Trademark owners should monitor newly published applications and take timely action against potentially conflicting marks within the prescribed deadlines.

Need assistance with trademark filings, monitoring, oppositions, or enforcement in Libya?

Our team is available to assist with all matters related to trademarks. For further information, please contact us at libya@alyafi-ip.com.