Intellectual Property lawyers in Beyrouth (ME)

Patent protection in Beirut operates under several legal frameworks:

• Law No. 240 of 2000 (Patents Law)
• Lebanese Industrial Property Protection Law
• Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which Lebanon joined in 2000

The Lebanese Patent Office in Beirut handles applications and maintains a registry of granted patents. Protection lasts for 20 years from the filing date, with annual maintenance fees required to keep patents in force.

Trademark registration in Beirut follows these steps:

1. Filing an application with the Intellectual Property Office located in downtown Beirut
2. Formal examination by the Lebanese trademark office
3. Publication in the Official Gazette for opposition period (60 days)
4. Registration certificate issuance if no opposition is filed

Trademark protection in Lebanon lasts 15 years and can be renewed indefinitely. Foreign applicants must appoint a local attorney based in Beirut to handle the registration process under Legislative Decree No. 2385 of 1924 (amended).

Businesses can find IP litigation attorneys in Beirut through:

• The intellectual-property.org directory, which lists attorneys by practice area and location
• The Beirut Bar Association near the Justice Palace in Adlieh
• Legal departments at universities like Saint Joseph University in Achrafieh
• Business referral networks in commercial districts like Hamra and Verdun

IP litigation in Beirut is handled by the civil courts, with the Commercial Chamber of the Court of First Instance handling most intellectual property disputes.

The Madrid Protocol is important for businesses working with Beirut attorneys because it allows:

1. Single trademark application filing that can cover up to 128 countries
2. Cost reduction compared to filing separately in each country
3. Simplified management of trademark portfolios through one system
4. Direct designation of Lebanon in international applications
5. Easier expansion of protection to new markets as business grows

Beirut-based trademark attorneys help Lebanese businesses use the Madrid system to protect their marks internationally, and assist foreign companies seeking protection in Lebanon through this protocol.

In Beirut’s creative districts like Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael, intellectual property lawyers provide these copyright services:

• Registration of works with the Copyright Protection Office at the Ministry of Economy
• Drafting licensing agreements for creative works
• Enforcement actions against copyright infringement
• Consultation on rights under Lebanon’s Law No. 75 of 1999 and the Berne Convention
• Representation in copyright disputes before Lebanese courts

These services support Beirut’s growing creative economy, including its film industry, music scene, publishing houses, and digital content creators.

Startups in Beirut’s Digital District should consult with IP attorneys at these key moments:

1. Before publicly disclosing inventions or launching products
2. When choosing company and product names to ensure trademark availability
3. Before signing development agreements or partnerships
4. When seeking investment, as IP assets often require proper documentation
5. Before entering into licensing agreements to protect intellectual property rights