Patent in Lebanon

A patent in Lebanon is an exclusive right granted by the Lebanese government to an inventor for a new, inventive, and industrially applicable invention. It empowers the patent holder to prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing the invention without their explicit permission for a specific period.  

The primary law is the Patent Law enacted on August 7, 2000 (Law No. 240/2000), which entered into force on August 14, 2000.  

The Intellectual Property Protection Office (IPPO), operating under the Ministry of Economy and Trade, is the competent authority for registering patents in Lebanon.  

Yes, Lebanon is a signatory to several international intellectual property agreements, including the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (since September 1, 1924).  

No, Lebanon is not currently a member of the PCT. Therefore, PCT national phase entry is not applicable for direct filings into Lebanon. National filings or Convention priority filings are the standard routes.  

The term of protection for a patent is 20 years from the date of filing the application, provided all annual maintenance fees are paid.

​Any individual or legal entity, whether Lebanese or foreign, can apply for a patent in Lebanon. Foreign applicants must appoint a local agent (a lawyer or firm) in Lebanon to handle the application. Lebanese nationals may file directly. ​

The first step is to prepare a comprehensive patent application, which includes a detailed description of the invention, claims defining the scope of protection, an abstract, and any necessary drawings.

The official language is Arabic. However, the specification (description, claims, and drawings) can be submitted in English or French. An Arabic translation of the abstract is generally required.  

Yes, Lebanon is a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. This allows you to claim priority from a patent application filed in another member country within 12 months.

If all formal requirements are met, a patent can be granted relatively quickly, often within a few weeks of filing.

The Lebanese system primarily operates as a deposit system with a formal examination. This checks for completeness and compliance with formal requirements. However, there is generally no substantive examination to assess novelty, inventiveness, or industrial applicability before the patent is granted.

Since the patent is granted without a thorough examination of its patentability, the validity of the patent can be challenged in court by a third party at a later stage. The onus is on the applicant to ensure their invention meets the patentability criteria. 

Voluntary claim amendments may be possible, typically before the payment of publication fees or if requested by the examiner to meet formal requirements. 

No, the Lebanese patent law does not provide a statutory grace period for disclosures by the inventor prior to filing. Worldwide novelty is strictly applied. 

No, Lebanese patent law does not provide for a formal opposition procedure before a patent is granted. Challenges to a patent's validity are made through the courts after grant.  

Upon granting the patent, the IPPO issues a patent registration certificate, which serves as official proof of your patent rights in Lebanon.

The patent holder has the exclusive right to prevent others from making, using, offering for sale, selling, or importing the patented invention without their authorization.

 No, patent rights are territorial. A Lebanese patent is only valid in Lebanon. To protect your invention in other countries, you must obtain separate patents in each of those countries.

Yes, as a patent owner, you can grant licenses to third parties to exploit your invention under agreed terms and conditions.

 Yes, a patent is a form of personal property that can be assigned, sold, or transferred to another individual or entity. The transfer must be recorded with the IPPO to be effective against third parties.

 Patent infringement occurs when someone exploits a patented invention for commercial purposes without the patentee's consent, within Lebanese territory.

If your patent is infringed, you can take legal action against the infringer in the Lebanese courts.

Remedies can include:

• An injunction to stop the infringing activity.
• Damages to compensate for the financial loss suffered.
• Seizure and destruction of the infringing goods.

 A compulsory license allows a third party to use a patented invention without the patent holder's permission under specific circumstances, such as non-working of the invention within three consecutive years from grant, or for national security or public health reasons.

Yes, working of the invention in Lebanon is generally required. This typically means local manufacturing or significant use; mere importation might not always satisfy this requirement. Failure to work the invention can be a ground for compulsory licensing.

Yes, a patent can be revoked or invalidated through court proceedings if it is found not to meet the patentability requirements (e.g., lack of novelty, inventive step), or if it was granted improperly.

While the legal framework for patent enforcement exists, the practical enforcement can be challenging and may be a lengthy process. It is crucial to have strong evidence of infringement.

  A patent can be cancelled if it is proven that the invention was not patentable in the first place (i.e., it lacked novelty, inventiveness, or industrial applicability), or if the patent description is insufficient.