OMPIC (Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property) is the public body responsible for registering trademarks, patents, and industrial designs in Morocco. For an MRE entrepreneur or investor, protecting their trademark or invention in Morocco is a step to take from the very start of the business. In 2024, OMPIC recorded more than 12,000 trademark applications, with a growing proportion filed by foreign companies and MREs.
Costs & fees
| Trademark filing per class (company) | 1,800 MAD/class | Nice classification, 10 years protection |
| Trademark filing per class (individual Morocco) | 900 MAD/class | Moroccan residents only |
| Invention patent (filing) | 3,000 MAD | + annual maintenance fees |
| Annual patent maintenance fee (year 1) | 700 MAD | Progressive increase to 4,000 MAD year 20 |
| Utility model | 1,500 MAD | 10 years non-renewable |
| Industrial designs | 1,200 to 1,800 MAD | 5 years renewable twice |
| Accredited agent fees | 3,000 to 8,000 MAD | Per filing, depending on complexity |
| Trademark renewal | 1,800 MAD/class | Every 10 years |
Timeline
Trademark filing: OMPIC procedure and fees
Filing a trademark with OMPIC protects a distinctive sign (trade name, logo, slogan) for 10 years, renewable indefinitely. The international classification of goods and services (Nice classification, 45 classes) applies. The official fee is 1,800 MAD per class filed for a legal entity, and 900 MAD for individuals residing in Morocco. A filing in 3 classes therefore costs 5,400 MAD for a company. Online filing is possible via the OMPIC portal.
💡 Tip — Conduct a prior art search on the ROMARIN database (Moroccan Trademark Database) before any filing to check that an identical or similar trademark does not already exist. The search is free online.
⚠️ Warning — A trademark filed only in Morocco is not protected in other countries. If you trade in Europe or other African countries, separate filings or a filing via ARIPO or OAPI are necessary.
Invention patent: 20-year protection
An invention patent protects a new invention with industrial application for 20 years from filing (non-renewable). The filing fee is 3,000 MAD for the initial application, plus annual maintenance fees (700 MAD in year 1, progressively increasing to 4,000 MAD in year 20). OMPIC conducts an immediate formal examination and publishes the application in the Official Industrial Property Bulletin within 18 months.
💡 Tip — For international protection, consider a PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) filing which allows a single application valid in more than 150 countries including Morocco. The 30-month national phase gives you time to assess the Moroccan market.
Utility model and industrial designs
The utility model protects technical innovations of lesser inventiveness than a patent for 10 years (non-renewable). Fee: 1,500 MAD. Industrial designs protect the aesthetic appearance of a product for 5 years, renewable twice (15 years maximum). Fee: 1,200 MAD per individual filing, 1,800 MAD for multiple filing (2 to 10 designs).
Accredited agent: mandatory for non-residents
Under law 17-97 on industrial property (amended by law 23-13), any person without a domicile or establishment in Morocco must use an OMPIC-accredited industrial property agent to file an application. The list of accredited agents is published on the OMPIC website. Agent fees range from 3,000 to 8,000 MAD per trademark filing depending on complexity.
💡 Tip — Ask the agent for a detailed quote including their fees, official OMPIC taxes, and any translation or objection response costs.
⚠️ Warning — Non-OMPIC-accredited agents cannot legally represent a foreign applicant. Check their accreditation on the official OMPIC list before entrusting them with a mandate.
Examination timelines and renewal
After a trademark filing, OMPIC publishes the application in the Official Industrial Property Bulletin within 2 to 3 months. A 2-month opposition period runs from publication. In the absence of opposition, the registration certificate is issued within 6 to 9 months of filing. Renewal must be made within the 6 months preceding the 10-year expiry (with a 6-month grace period with a 50% surcharge). Renewal fee: 1,800 MAD per class.
💡 Tip — Set a reminder at 9 years and 6 months after filing to avoid missing the renewal deadline. An unrenewed trademark falls into the public domain.
In depth
For an MRE entrepreneur launching a commercial brand in Morocco, the optimal strategy is to file the trademark in the 1 to 3 most relevant classes from the start of the business, before any commercial launch. The total cost (agent + OMPIC fees) for 2 classes is approximately 7,000 to 11,600 MAD, less than 1,000 euros, for 10 years of protection. If the trademark is already filed in Europe (via EUIPO) or internationally (via the WIPO Madrid system), it is possible to extend protection to Morocco using the Madrid system, which simplifies procedures via a single agent and can reduce costs when targeting multiple countries simultaneously.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Not conducting a prior art search before filing and discovering a conflicting prior trademark after investing in communications
- ✕Filing a trademark without using an accredited agent when residing abroad, which invalidates the procedure
- ✕Forgetting the 10-year renewal and losing trademark protection to a competitor
🔗 Official links and resources
❓ Frequently asked questions
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