Intellectual Property Law

Patent Law

• A patent license is valid for a non-renewable period of 20 years from the date it is filed and must be utilized accordingly.
• Patent applications must be made to the Patent Office.
• Appeals by an interested party may be lodged against decisions made by the Patent Office.

• Repeals the previous Patent Law contained in Legislative Decree 47/1946.

• This Law was enacted against the backdrop of internal conflict in Syria but which the government nevertheless promoted to encourage commercial dealings.

Trademark Law

• A trademark license is valid for a renewable period of 10 years from the date it is filed and must be utilized accordingly.
• Trademark applications must be made to the Industrial and Commercial Protection Directorate.
• Appeals by an interested party may be lodged against decisions made by the Directorate.
• So long as done in good faith, any party that registers a trademark shall not have it challenged after a period of five years has elapsed.

• Overtakes the trademark provisions contained in Legislative Decree 47/1946.

• With the changes in economic policy towards a social market economy taking place, this Law sought to promote the Syrian market as a potential base for local and foreign investors.

Copyright Law

• Covers a variety of works.
• Protects the moral and economic rights of authors to exploit their works.
• On average, grants 50-year protection periods following the death of an author for most works.
• Foreign authors have the ability under certain conditions to obtain copyright protection.
• The Directorate for the Protection of Copyright and Related Rights is tasked with overseeing the implementation of this law.

• Repeals the previous Copyright Law 12/2001.
• Previously, copyrights were governed by the Criminal Code and the media laws.

• This law was enacted against the backdrop of internal conflict in Syria but which the government nevertheless promoted to encourage commercial dealings.