“The recent enactment of the new Iranian intellectual property law has a limited impact on the registration process and protection measures for trademarks, patents and industrial designs in Iran. These aspects as to regulation process have largely remained unchanged,” said Jehad Ali E Hasan, CEO at JAH Intellectual Property in Doha. “The most significant change brought about by the new law pertains to the official fees which have increased. However, it is important to note that foreign applicants were previously required to pay fees in euros, while now the new law mandates that official fees be paid in Iranian rials (local currency) and exclusively through online channels. While the official fees have increased substantially compared to previous rates, the overall cost for foreign applicants has generally decreased due to the shift from euro to local currency payments. Another significant change which should be noted is the expanded scope of protection to encompass utility models, trade secrets and certification marks, which previously were excluded from the purview of the earlier law. Moreover, the Iranian Intellectual Property Office (IIPO) may implement procedural adjustments in accordance with the new law, pending the approval of its executive by-law.”  

He added that the newly enacted Iranian IP law has implemented several fee adjustments. “However, for the majority of cases, the fees have remained relatively stable due to the shift from euro to rial for foreign applicants. Given the recent devaluation of the rial in relation to the euro, this change may indirectly impact the overall cost for foreign entities seeking IP protection in Iran. The three most significant fee changes observed are summarized in the table below: