Online trademark registration now possible

New service to discourage illegal competition

The registration of brand names at the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET) can now be done online. The Ministry will begin receiving applications this week.

“Brand registration is very important since it deters illegitimate competition and trademark counterfeiting,” an official at the MoET said. He said brands and trademarks registered last year totaled 7,127. “We expect this number to rise this year,” the official said.

Through this service, industrialists and merchants can register their brands online, without visiting the MoET offices. Once the application is submitted, the applicants receive a password that allows them to check the progress of their paperwork. Any additional papers needed to complete the application can be sent through the Internet as well.

After gaining the Ministry’s approval, applicants can acquire the receipt from the Directorate of Intellectual Property Protection at the MoET. The fees can be paid through the Ministry of Finance or through banks. The paperwork can be processed through Liban Post.