# Trademark registration in Libya

> Trademarks in Libya are registered with the Trademark Office, Ministry of Economy; the official registration application fee is LYD 70.50 for one class, and third parties can oppose within 3 months from publication in the official gazette. A registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed. Libya is not in the Madrid System, so a national filing is needed.

Source page: https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/libya
Facts checked against official sources: 2026-10-11

## Key facts
- **Trademark office:** Trademark Office, Ministry of Economy
- **Official fee:** LYD 70.50 — Registration application (per application, one class)
- **Madrid Protocol:** Not a member
- **Opposition period:** 3 months from publication in the official gazette
- **Protection:** 10 years, renewable
- **Multi-class applications:** No — one class per application
- **Foreign applicants:** Foreign companies must file through a Libyan national agent registered in the Trademark Office's register of trademark…

## Official links
- Trademark office: https://economy.gov.ly/trademark-infographic/
- Law: Law No. 23 of 2010 on Commercial Activities, Book Ten (Arts. 1228–1271: trademarks and commercial indications) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/16462
- Law: Decision No. 86 of 2004 amending the Implementing Regulations of Law No. 40 of 1956 on Trademarks — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/10144
- Law: Implementing regulations of the trademark law (Arabic, Ministry of Economy) — https://economy.gov.ly/trademark-law/

## Official fees (as of 2021-02)
- Registration application (per application, one class): LYD 70.50

## Steps
1. Optionally request a search of registered and pending marks from the Trademark Office (a search certificate confers no rights).
2. Foreign companies appoint a Libyan national agent registered in the Trademark Office's register of trademark agents.
3. File Form 1 and Form 2 with the Trademark Office, with eight prints of the mark, two A4 sheets showing the mark, a CD with the mark image and a recent commercial register extract (or establishment decision), and pay the application fee; one application covers one class.
4. The Office examines the application and may refuse it, accept it, or accept it with conditions such as a disclaimer; refusals can be appealed to a committee.
5. Accepted marks are published in the official gazette, and anyone may oppose within three months of publication.
6. If there is no opposition, or it is rejected, the mark is registered with effect from the filing date.

- **Examination:** The Trademark Office examines each application, may hear the applicant and ask for evidence, and may refuse or impose conditions with written reasons; appeals go to a committee (implementing regulations, Arts. 9–13). No official examination time is stated.
- **Publication:** Official gazette (the newspaper issued by order of the Minister of Justice), under Art. 14 of the implementing regulations.
- **Opposition:** 3 months from publication in the official gazette; the applicant then has 3 months from notification to respond in writing or the application is treated as abandoned (implementing regulations, Art. 15).
- **Language:** Arabic. Applications and documents must be in Arabic; foreign-language documents need an Arabic translation certified by the competent authorities, and the Office may require a translation and Arabic transliteration of non-Arabic words in the mark.
- **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 5 years of non-use.

## Good to know
- Libya is not a member of the Madrid System, so protection requires a national filing with the Trademark Office.
- Each application may cover only one class; a separate application is needed for each class.
- Class 33 (alcoholic beverages) is marked as deleted in the Ministry's list of classes.
- Famous marks are protected in Libya without registration, and identical marks must be refused (Arts. 1234–1236 of Law No. 23 of 2010).
- Ownership arises from registration and can no longer be disputed after five years of continuous use by the registrant without a valid claim against it (Art. 1229).

## FAQ
### Is Libya part of the Madrid Protocol?
No. Libya is not a member of the Madrid System, so trademarks must be filed nationally with the Trademark Office of the Ministry of Economy.

### How much does it cost to register a trademark in Libya?
The Ministry of Economy lists an official application fee of LYD 70.500 per application, and each application covers one class. Agent fees are extra.

### How long is the trademark opposition period in Libya?
Three months from publication of the accepted mark in the official gazette.

### Can a foreign company register a trademark in Libya?
Yes, but it must file through a Libyan national agent registered with the Trademark Office, and non-Arabic documents need a certified Arabic translation.

### How long does a trademark registration last in Libya?
Ten years, renewable for further periods.

### Can a trademark be cancelled for non-use in Libya?
Yes. A court can cancel a mark after five consecutive years of non-use unless the owner shows a reasonable cause.

## Sources
- Ministry of Economy – Trademark registration: https://economy.gov.ly/%d8%aa%d8%b3%d8%ac%d9%8a%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d9%84%d8%a7%d9%85%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d8%ac%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%a9/
- Ministry of Economy – Trademark Office document cycle: https://economy.gov.ly/trademark-infographic/
- Ministry of Economy – Trademark implementing regulations: https://economy.gov.ly/trademark-law/
- Ministry of Economy – Trademark FAQ: https://economy.gov.ly/trademark-faq/
- Ministry of Economy – Classification of goods and services: https://economy.gov.ly/products-services-categories/
- WIPO Lex – Law No. 23 of 2010 on Commercial Activities: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/16462
- WIPO Lex – Decision No. 86 of 2004: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/10144
- WIPO Lex – Libya profile: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/members/profile/LY
- WIPO – Libya IP office contact: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/country-profiles/contact?code=ly
- WIPO Lex – Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/parties/8

Need a firm that files in Libya? Find one at https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/libya (TrademarksHub lists IP firms by country; featured placements are paid and labelled).
General information, not legal advice.