MOROCCO

View All News

Patent Information

International and Regional Arrangements:

• Paris convention:  Yes
• PCT:  Yes (national phase deadline is 31 months from the priority date)
• ARIPO:  No
• OAPI:  No
• Other:  Validation of European application in Morocco (only available where the PCT application was filed after 31 March 2015)

Filing Requirements:

Patents of Invention (non-PCT)

• Specification, claims, abstract and drawings (required on day of filing)
• French or Arabic translation of specification, claims, abstract and drawings (can be filed within 3 months)
• Power of Attorney, notarised (can be filed within 3 months)
• Assignment of Priority rights, notarised (can be late filed)
• Certified priority document with verified French Translation thereof (if not lodged in the international phase) (can be filed within 3 months)
• International Patent Classification (can be late filed)

PCT National phase application

• Published PCT application or specification, abstract and drawings if non-PCT (required on the day of filing)
• French or Arabic translation of specification, claims, abstract and drawings (can be filed within 3 months of filing)
• International Search Report and International Preliminary Examination Report (no set deadline)
• Power of Attorney, notarised (can be filed within 3 months)
• Assignment of Priority rights, notarised (can be late filed)

Novelty:   Absolute novelty is required

Patentability:   Methods of medical treatment, surgery or diagnosis are not patentable

Excess Fees:   Excess fees are payable for more than 10 claims, payable within 3 months of filing

Examination:   Substantive examination must be requested at the time of filing the application

Term of Patent:   20 years from the effective filing date

Renewals:   Payable annually in advance from the first anniversary of the effective filing date (but only due after grant)

General Information

• Area: Approximately 446 500 km2
• Population: 31.6 million
• Capital: Rabat
• Currency: Moroccan Dirham
• GDP:  $ 153.8 billion (2010)
• Domain name extension: .ma
• Languages: Arabic (official language), French, Spanish, Berber
• Exports: Food and beverages; semi-processed goods; consumer goods; phosphates; crude minerals
• Imports: Gas and electricity; crude petroleum; textile fabric; telecommunication equipment; wheat; transistors; plastic

International / Regional Conventions:

• Berne Convention
• Hague Agreement on Designs
• Madrid Agreement on Source of Goods
• Madrid Agreement on Marks
• Madrid Protocol on Marks
• Nice Agreement on Classification of Marks
• Paris Convention
• Patent Cooperation Treaty
• Trade Mark Law Treaty
• WIPO Convention
• WIPO Copyright Treaty
• WTO/TRIPS