# Trademark registration in Morocco

> Trademarks in Morocco are registered with the Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office (OMPIC); third parties can oppose within 2 months from publication of the application. A registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed. Morocco can be designated through the Madrid System.

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

## Key facts
- **Trademark office:** Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office (Office Marocain de la Propriété Industrielle et Commerciale) (OMPIC)
- **Madrid Protocol:** Member since 1999
- **Opposition period:** 2 months from publication of the application
- **Protection:** 10 years from the filing date, renewable
- **Multi-class applications:** Allowed
- **Foreign applicants:** Applicants with no domicile or establishment in Morocco must elect an address for service with a representative based i…

## Official links
- Law: Law No. 17-97 on the Protection of Industrial Property (Dahir No. 1-00-91 of 15 February 2000), as amended up to Law No. 23-13 — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/19767
- Law: Decree No. 2-00-368 of 7 June 2004 implementing Law No. 17-97 — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/2986
- Law: Law No. 13-99 establishing OMPIC, as amended by Law No. 87-17 — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/19768

## Steps
1. Search for earlier identical or similar marks in the free databases before filing.
2. Appoint a Morocco-based representative (mandatory for companies and foreign applicants when filing online).
3. File the application with OMPIC, normally online through DirectOMPIC, with a reproduction of the mark, any claimed colours, and the goods or services classified under the Nice Classification, and pay the fees.
4. OMPIC checks the application and publishes it.
5. Owners of earlier rights may oppose within 2 months of publication; OMPIC decides the opposition within 6 months after that period (extendable).
6. If no ground for refusal applies and any opposition is rejected, the mark is registered with effect from the filing date.

- **Examination:** OMPIC checks applications against the grounds for refusal in Article 148 of Law No. 17-97; oppositions are decided within six months after the end of the opposition period, extendable. No official overall processing time was found.
- **Opposition:** 2 months from publication of the application.
- **Late renewal:** Renewal is filed in the 6 months before expiry, with a further 6-month grace period after expiry.
- **Power of attorney:** A representative on OMPIC's list of industrial property advisers can file online without presenting a power of attorney (OMPIC online filing guide). Other POA formalities were not verified.
- **Language:** French or Arabic, with optional transliteration into the other language
- **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 5 years of non-use.

## Good to know
- Morocco has been party to the Madrid Protocol since 8 October 1999 and to the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks since 22 July 2022.
- Oppositions can be filed by owners of earlier registered marks, well-known marks under Article 6bis of the Paris Convention, protected geographical indications or appellations of origin, and exclusive licensees unless their contract says otherwise.
- Marks can be filed in French or Arabic, and OMPIC's online system accepts word, figurative, combined, sound and scent marks.
- The classes designated in an application cannot be changed after filing; adding goods or services requires a new application.
- A mark not genuinely used for an uninterrupted five-year period without good reason can be revoked, and the owner bears the burden of proving use.

## FAQ
### Can I file a trademark online in Morocco?
Yes. OMPIC accepts online filings through its DirectOMPIC portal, with payment by bank card or subscription; companies and foreign applicants must file through a representative.

### Is Morocco part of the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. The Madrid Protocol has been in force for Morocco since 8 October 1999.

### How long is the trademark opposition period in Morocco?
Two months from publication of the application. OMPIC then decides within six months, a period that can be extended.

### How long does a trademark registration last in Morocco?
Ten years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely. Renewal is filed in the six months before expiry, with a six-month grace period afterwards.

### Do foreign applicants need a representative in Morocco?
Applicants with no domicile or establishment in Morocco must elect an address for service with a representative based in Morocco.

### Can a Moroccan trademark be cancelled for non-use?
Yes. A mark not genuinely used for five uninterrupted years without good reason can be revoked, and the owner must prove use.

## Sources
- WIPO Lex - Law No. 17-97 on the Protection of Industrial Property (Morocco): https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/19767
- WIPO Lex - Morocco member profile: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/members/profile/MA
- WIPO Lex - Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=8
- INPI (France) – Country sheet: Morocco (October 2024): https://inpi.fr/sites/default/files/fiche_maroc_octobre_2024.pdf

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