How registration works, why the West Bank and Gaza are filed separately, and why in a first-to-file country the date of a single application can decide who owns a brand.
Palestine has a functioning trademark system with rules of its own. The essentials, verified and at a glance.
Registration is what settles ownership, so the first application usually decides who holds a mark.
Prior use is not worthless. A well-known mark can be protected by the courts even where it is not registered, and an earlier owner can challenge a later registration for a period after it is entered. Those routes exist and we use them. They simply take longer than filing first, which is why registering early, in both territories, is the straightforward option.
The business name, product names, and any word that identifies you in the market. The most commonly filed and the most often contested.
The visual mark itself, filed as an image. Worth reviewing after a rebrand, since a redesign can leave the registered version out of step with the one you actually use.
Taglines that identify goods or services, where they are distinctive enough to function as a mark rather than as plain description.
A registration is only as wide as the classes it covers. Filing in too few, or in the wrong ones, leaves gaps a competitor can occupy legitimately.
Beyond trademarks. We also advise on copyright, patents and industrial designs in Palestine, from protection strategy through to enforcement. See the full intellectual property practice →
In each jurisdiction, a trademark moves through the same broad stages, typically taking about twelve to fifteen months from filing, and longer if it is opposed. Our detailed guide to registering a trademark in Palestine walks through each stage.
Check the register for conflicting marks before committing to a filing.
Submit the application by class, with the mark and a power of attorney.
The Registrar reviews the mark for registrability and any objections.
The mark is published in the Official Gazette, opening a 3-month opposition window.
Absent opposition, the mark proceeds to registration and is enforceable.
A foreign applicant files through a local agent, and the power of attorney is what authorises it. It is the single most common cause of delay, because the formalities are not the same in both territories.
The power of attorney must be notarised and then legalised up to the Palestinian Representation Office or Embassy in the applicant’s country. It is then sent to us for certification at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice in Palestine. We confirm the correct office for your jurisdiction before you start, since this is the step that most often delays a filing.
Allow extra time for consular steps
The requirement is lighter. A power of attorney signed and sealed with the applicant company’s official stamp, showing the exact date of execution, is generally accepted without notarisation or legalisation. Agency matters are treated more strictly.
No consular step in the ordinary case
Trademark work is handled directly by our attorneys, not passed to an outside agent. These are the people who will answer you.
Practises across intellectual property, corporate and data protection. Admitted in both New York and Palestine, with an MSc in Law and Finance from Queen Mary University of London.
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Handles the enforcement and advocacy of trademarks and patents, alongside commercial litigation, contract work and corporate formation. Admitted to the Palestine Bar.
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Send us the mark you want to protect. An attorney checks it against the register and replies with where you stand, and our full fee schedule lands in your inbox straight away.
GuideRegistration of trademarks in PalestineThe step-by-step registration process in more detail.
GuideProtecting intellectual property from infringementWhat to do when someone copies a protected mark.
ResultLandmark trademark victories in PalestineDecisions strengthening protection for the brands we act for.
ResultSuccessful defence in a high-stakes IP disputeDefending a client’s rights in contested proceedings.In most cases, yes. Palestine is first-to-file, so using a name in the market does not, on its own, give you the exclusive right to it. As a rule the first party to register holds the rights, which is why filing promptly matters.
Publication in the Official Gazette typically occurs within twelve months of filing, with final registration due about three months after publication, so allow roughly twelve to fifteen months overall, and longer if the mark is opposed. A trademark is protected for an initial term of seven years from the filing date, not from registration, and is renewable for successive fourteen-year periods.
For the West Bank, the power of attorney is notarised, legalised at the Palestinian Representation Office or Embassy in your country, then sent to us for certification at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice in Palestine. Gaza is lighter: a document signed and sealed with the company’s official stamp, showing the date of execution, is usually enough. We prepare the wording and tell you which office to use, and certification and stamps are included in our filing fee.
Yes, for protection across Palestine. The two territories operate under separate statutes and registries, so a mark registered in one is not automatically protected in the other. We coordinate filings in both as a single instruction.
Yes. Because Palestine is not part of the international registration systems, foreign brands file directly through a local agent. We act in that capacity, handle both registries, and manage the process end to end.
The response depends on the facts, and can include opposition during the publication window, a cancellation action, cease-and-desist, or litigation. Kurdi & Co. has a record of trademark enforcement in Palestine.
Not necessarily. An earlier owner can challenge a registration for a period after it is entered, a mark that has gone unused for two years can be challenged for cancellation, and a well-known mark can be protected by the courts even where it is not registered. These routes take longer than filing first, so send us the details and we will tell you which one applies.
Send your mark through the check above and our fee schedule is emailed to you immediately, setting out filing, registration and renewal rates per class and per jurisdiction. Fees vary with the number of classes and whether you file in one territory or both. Opposition and enforcement work is scoped and quoted per matter.
