How do you register a trademark in Morocco in 2026?
To register a trademark in Morocco, you file an application online with OMPIC for one or more classes of products and services: allow approximately 1,200 to 1,800 MAD excl. VAT for one class depending on the applicant, plus 240 to 360 MAD excl. VAT per additional class. After examination and publication, third parties have 2 months to file an opposition, then the trademark is registered for periods of 10 years, renewable indefinitely (Law 17-97). Here is what you need to prepare. With Charikaty, you do everything online, with no travel.
The essentials
In shortA complete protection strategy combines (1) reservation of the name through the OMPIC negative certificate (232.76 MAD online, valid for 90 days), (2) registration in the Commercial Register (Law 15-95), which protects the trade name against any confusion (Law 17-97), (3) registration of the trademark with OMPIC under Law 17-97 (renewable for periods of 10 years), (4) protection of creative works under Law 2-00 (copyright), (5) reservation of domain names and social media handles. Costs vary depending on your situation. Contact Charikaty for a personalized quote.
the information provided in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute personalized legal advice. We recommend that you consult a qualified legal expert before making any decision. Charikaty provides experts to support you: contact us for free advice.
Your trade name (nom commercial) and your trademark (marque) are major assets of your business. The trademark complements a layered legal framework: reservation of the name through the negative certificate (certificat négatif) issued by OMPIC (Commercial Code [Code de commerce], Article 74), registration in the Commercial Register (Registre du Commerce, RC) with the commercial court registry (greffe du tribunal de commerce) (Law 15-95), protection of the trade name (Law 17-97), copyright on your creations (Law 2-00), and the additional digital layer (domain names, social media handles).
How do you register a trademark in Morocco, step by step?
The filing is made with OMPIC, online, under Law 17-97 on the protection of industrial property, amended by Laws 31-05 and 23-13; the office's other missions are presented in OMPIC's role in company formation. The trademark protects a sign (name, logo, slogan, combinations) for specific classes of products and services.
Step 1: Carry out a prior rights search
Before filing, check in the OMPIC databases, which can be consulted free of charge, that no identical or similar trademark is already registered for similar products or services, including the variants of your sign. OMPIC does not reject a filing on its own initiative for similarity with a prior right: it is the holder of that right who can file an opposition after your application is published (Law 17-97 as amended by Law 23-13).
Step 2: Choose the classes of products and services
Products and services are divided according to the Nice Classification (45 classes). Designate the classes relevant to your current and likely future activities: the trademark is only protected in the registered classes, and each additional class adds to the cost. A single filing can cover the word element and the logo.
Step 3: File the application online with OMPIC
The application is filed online with OMPIC. Any person with no domicile or establishment in Morocco, which may be the case for an MRE or a non-resident, must act through an agent authorized by OMPIC (mandataire agréé); with Charikaty, the filing is organized remotely, through an agent where the law requires it.
Step 4: Examination, publication and opposition
OMPIC examines the application and publishes it; third parties have 2 months from publication to file an opposition. In the event of rejection, OMPIC specifies the reason (descriptive character or a formal problem) and the application can be revised and refiled according to its procedures.
Step 5: Registration of the trademark
In the absence of opposition, the registration certificate is issued, in practice around 6 months after filing. The trademark then gives its owner exclusivity for the registered classes and territory (Morocco), for successive periods of 10 years from filing, renewable indefinitely.
💡 Strategic tip: registering the company name and the trademark intended for customers offers the most complete protection.
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Morocco?
According to the OMPIC fee schedule:
| Item | Indicative amount |
|---|---|
| Filing for one class | Approximately 1,200 to 1,800 MAD excl. VAT, depending on the applicant |
| Each additional class | 240 to 360 MAD excl. VAT |
| Renewal (every 10 years) | According to the current OMPIC fee schedule |
The official fee schedule can be consulted on the OMPIC: trademark fees page. The cost therefore depends on the applicant's profile and the number of classes designated.
Trade name or trademark: what is the difference?
The two concepts are legally distinct in Morocco:
Company name / trade name (dénomination sociale / nom commercial)
- The official name of the company (e.g. "TechMorocco SARL"), under which it operates and enters into contracts
- Used on contracts, invoices and legal documents
- Reserved by the negative certificate (Commercial Code, art. 74; OMPIC, Law 13-99) and protected by registration in the Commercial Register (Law 15-95); Law 17-97 prohibits any use of a trade name that creates confusion
- Includes the legal form (SARL, SARL AU, SAS, SA)
Commercial trademark (marque)
- The sign that distinguishes your products or services (name, logo, slogan)
- Used on shop windows, marketing, packaging
- Registered separately with OMPIC under Law 17-97, for classes of products and services
- Protected for periods of 10 years, renewable indefinitely (Law 17-97)
A company can have a trade name that differs from its trademark: both can and should be protected. The negative certificate and registration remain procedures separate from the trademark filing. The differences between company name, trade name and shop sign (enseigne) are detailed in our guide to the trade name in Morocco, and what the negative certificate does not protect in negative certificate or trademark: what does each protect?.
Which protections should you combine with your trademark?
The trademark is the central layer of a layered protection, which starts with the name and extends online.
Layer 1: Negative certificate (OMPIC)
The negative certificate, issued by OMPIC (Law 13-99) pursuant to Article 74 of the Commercial Code, reserves the company name in the central commercial register (registre central du commerce) for 90 days for 232.76 MAD online, generally within 24 to 48 hours, and is part of the registration file. Its procedure, documents and validity are detailed in our guide to the negative certificate in Morocco.
Layer 2: Registration in the Commercial Register
What it protects: The trade name at national level Filed with: Commercial court registry of the registered office (Law 15-95; Law 53-95); with Charikaty, filing is done online, as permitted by Law 88-17 How it works: Registration enters the company name in the Commercial Register in Morocco. No company can then be registered under an identical name, and the registered trade name is protected by Law 17-97 against any use likely to create confusion (unfair competition action [action en concurrence déloyale]).
Layer 3: Trademark registration
The OMPIC filing described above gives exclusivity over the sign (name, logo, slogan, combinations) in the registered classes and territory, for successive periods of 10 years, renewable indefinitely.
Layer 4: Domain names
What it protects: The company's online address Issued by: Registration service providers accredited by the ANRT for .ma; accredited registrars for .com and other international extensions Duration: Annual renewal (or multi-year if prepaid) Strategy: Reserve at least the .ma and the .com, as well as the relevant extensions and likely variants to prevent cybersquatting.
Layer 5: Social media handles
What it protects: The brand's identity on social platforms Strategy: Reserve the handle as soon as the trade name and the trademark are confirmed (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, X, Google Business Profile as applicable).
What happens if a third party copies your trademark?
Scenario: a third party tries to appropriate your trademark:
| Layer | What blocks the third party |
|---|---|
| Negative certificate | Reserves the name for 90 days: OMPIC does not issue an identical certificate to a third party |
| RC registration | Registers the trade name at national level; any identical registration is refused; unfair competition action in the event of confusion (Law 17-97) |
| Trademark (OMPIC) | Exclusivity over the registered sign in the registered classes; basis for opposition and infringement action under Law 17-97 |
| Domain name | Exclusive rights to the address with the registrar |
| Social media handle | Exclusive use on the platform; basis for reporting impersonation |
Combined, the layers cover the legal, commercial and digital areas where misappropriation most often occurs. When the trademark is registered, the owner can take action under Law 17-97 (opposition within 2 months of publication, infringement action, damages) and on the basis of unfair competition; without registration, action is more difficult and relies on unfair competition and prior use.
Which laws govern trademarks in Morocco?
| Layer | Legal basis | Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Negative certificate | Law 15-95 (Commercial Code, art. 74); Law 13-99 (OMPIC) | National (central commercial register) |
| RC registration | Law 15-95 (Commercial Code, art. 27 to 78); Law 53-95 (registries); Law 17-97 (trade name protection) | National (Commercial Register) |
| Trademark | Law 17-97 (industrial property), amended by Laws 31-05 and 23-13 | National (OMPIC) + international (Madrid Protocol via WIPO [OMPI]) |
| Copyright | Law 2-00 (copyright and related rights) | Automatic upon creation; Berne Convention internationally |
| Domain | ANRT for .ma; ICANN and registrar terms for other extensions | Via the registration service provider |
Law 88-17 makes it possible to complete company formation formalities electronically and Law 43-20 gives legal value to the advanced electronic signature; with Charikaty, the registration file is filed online.
How do you renew a trademark and maintain its protections?
Trade name (RC)
No periodic renewal. The trade name remains protected as long as the company exists and its entry in the Commercial Register is maintained. Any change of company name requires a new negative certificate, an amendment to the articles of association (statuts), an amending entry at the registry and a legal publication (Law 15-95; Law 5-96; Law 17-95).
Trademark
Successive periods of 10 years, renewable indefinitely under Law 17-97. The renewal is filed with OMPIC before the current period expires, according to the applicable fee schedule; failure to renew results in the loss of the trademark, and the sign becomes available again.
Domain name
Annual renewal with the registrar (or prepaid over several years). Failure to renew exposes the domain to capture by a third party.
Social media handles
Keep the handle active. Most platforms reserve the right to release inactive handles. Monitor impersonation and use the platforms' reporting tools.
What habits should you adopt to protect your trademark properly?
- Act quickly: align the negative certificate, registration, trademark filing and digital registrations from the initial phase
- Register the relevant variants of the trademark (with or without a space, with a hyphen, Arabic and Latin spelling)
- Register the Nice classes relevant to current and likely future activities
- Register defensively: reserve domains and handles even if they are not used immediately
- Monitor OMPIC publications and the relevant extensions to detect similar filings; file an opposition within 2 months of publication where relevant (Law 17-97)
- Document evidence of first use of the trademark (advertising, product launch, contracts), useful in the event of a dispute
- For international expansion, use the Madrid Protocol (via WIPO) for trademarks; protection is territorial
What mistakes should you avoid when protecting your trademark?
- Registering the trade name but not the trademark: leaves the commercial sign without an exclusive right
- Letting the negative certificate (90 days) expire before registration: the name becomes available again
- Skipping the domain layer: exposes you to cybersquatting
- Forgetting to renew the trademark at the end of the 10-year period: loss of exclusivity
- Not protecting trademark variants: third parties register the variants
- Ignoring copyright on creations (logo, website content, photos)
- Relying solely on social media handles: they confer no trademark right within the meaning of Law 17-97
FAQ
What is the price of a trademark filing with OMPIC?
According to the OMPIC fee schedule, filing a trademark costs approximately 1,200 to 1,800 MAD excl. VAT for one class depending on the applicant, plus 240 to 360 MAD excl. VAT per additional class. Renewal, every 10 years, follows the current fee schedule.
How long does a trademark last?
A trademark registered in Morocco is protected for successive periods of 10 years from filing, renewable indefinitely under Law 17-97.
If I have registered my company, is my trademark protected?
The trade name is protected by registration in the Commercial Register and by Law 17-97 against uses that create confusion. The trademark (name, logo, slogan) requires a separate registration with OMPIC to be reserved exclusively for you in the registered classes.
Can an MRE (Moroccan living abroad) or a non-resident file a trademark in Morocco?
Yes. However, any person with no domicile or establishment in Morocco must act through an agent authorized by OMPIC. With Charikaty, the filing is organized remotely, through an agent where the law requires it.
Can I protect my trademark internationally?
Yes. Via the Madrid Protocol (WIPO), a single filing based on your Moroccan trademark can extend it to the designated member countries. Direct national filings remain possible in non-member countries.
What can I do if someone copies my trademark?
When the trademark is registered, the owner can take action under Law 17-97 (opposition within 2 months of publication, infringement action, damages) and on the basis of unfair competition. Without registration, action is more difficult and relies on unfair competition and prior use.
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How does Charikaty simplify the filing of your trademark?
Here is what you need to file your trademark: a prior rights search, the choice of classes and an application filed with OMPIC. With Charikaty, you do everything online. Charikaty coordinates your entire protection strategy: we obtain your negative certificate from OMPIC, file your registration file with the commercial court registry as permitted by Law 88-17, file your trademark with OMPIC with our trademark filing service and advise you on reserving your domains and handles. Costs vary depending on your situation. Contact us for a personalized quote.
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