Morocco Information on the filing of Patents, Designs and trademarks in
Morocco
PATENT REGISTRATIONS
Morocco
used to consist of two zones for IP matters - a Tangier zone (ex
international zone) covering the northern part of Morocco including
the city of Tangier and its surrounding area, and a Casablanca zone
(ex French zone) covering the rest of Morocco - and separate applications
had to be filed in each zone to obtain protection therein. However,
a new Industrial Property Law (effective 18 December 2004) has been
adopted in which the two zones have been unified so that it is no
longer necessary to file separate applications in each zone. Furthermore,
as of 18 December 2004, all patents filed or registered prior to
18 December 2004 in either the Tangier zone or the Casablanca zone
automatically extend to the other zone.
Morocco
is a member of the International Convention and of the PCT.
The requirements
for filing a non-PCT application in Morocco are as follows:
(a) A
Power of Attorney - no legalization or notarization necessary;
(b) An
Assignment of Invention (not required if the inventor(s) and applicant(s)
are the same) - no legalization or notarization necessary;
(c) A
copy of the specification (including claims, drawings, and abstract)
in French; and
(d) A
certified copy of the priority application.
The specification
can be filed in English provided a French translation thereof is
lodged within 3 months of filing. The documents listed under (a),
(b), and (d) can be lodged up to 3 months after filing.
The requirements
for filing a PCT application in Morocco are as follows:
(i) A Power of Attorney
- no legalization or notarization necessary;
(ii) An Assignment
of Invention (not required if the inventor(s) and applicant(s)
are indicated on the PCT publication) - no legalization or notarization
necessary;
(iii) A copy of the
specification (including claims, drawings, and abstract) in French;
(iv) A certified copy
of the priority application (unless already filed during the International
Phase of the PCT);
(v) A copy of the PCT
International advertisement;
(vi) A copy of International
Search Report; and
(vii) A copy of International
Preliminary Examination Report.
The copy of the PCT International
advertisement is needed upon filing. Furthermore, the documents
listed under (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi), and (vii) can be lodged
up to 3 months after filing.
Our cost estimate for
filing a patent application in Morocco is between about US$ 2300.00
and US$ 2500.00 excluding translation costs, if required. This includes
a surcharge for the first 1000 lines of the specification. Should
the specification be between 1000 and 2000 lines, a further surcharge
of about US$ 250.00 will be payable. For each additional 250 lines
over 2000 lines add about US$ 130.00.
Furthermore, a cost
of about US$ 30.00 for each priority claim and about US$ 60.00 for
each drawing over 3 must also be added to the above. Lastly, the
renewal fees for the 2nd to the 5th years must also be paid upon
filing at a cost of about US$ 450.00.