Iraqi Trade Mark Office Power of Attorney requirements

News recently of a change in practice at the Iraqi Trade Mark Office on Powers of Attorney. The change in practice covers situations where there is a chain of Powers of Attorney. So the client grants a Power of Attorney to a regional managing agent (the primary PoA). The regional managing agent grants a Power of Attorney to a local agent (the delegated PoA) using the power of delegation contained in the primary PoA. The Iraqi Trade Mark Office now requires in addition to the delegated PoA that either the original or a certified copy of the primary PoA be submitted. To make matters more interesting the primary PoA must be legalised to the Iraqi Embassy.

This additional requirement is frustrating if the regional managing agent operates in a country where a certified copy will not be accepted for legalisation.

This part of the Empty Quarter waits for the day when the countries in the region do away with the requirement to legalise documents. The cost and time required is considerable.