Trademarks in Israel

Competent Authority

Trademark registration in Israel is administered by the Israel Patent Office (ILPO), operating under the Ministry of Justice, located in Jerusalem. The official working languages are Hebrew, Arabic, and English, and the system is national.

International Agreements

Israel is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. Israel is also a contracting party to the Madrid Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, allowing international registrations to designate Israel.

Who May Apply

Natural persons and legal entities engaging in commercial or industrial activities may apply. Foreign applicants without a local residence or principal place of business in Israel are generally required to appoint a local Israeli representative or trademark agent and provide an address for service in Israel. A signed Power of Attorney (POA) is required, which under current ILPO practice does not require notarization or consular legalization.

Online Filing and Search

Electronic filings and database searches are supported through the official digital submission tools and public search portals managed by the Israel Patent Office. Free preliminary availability searches of the national register can be conducted online.

Registrable Sign Types

Trademarks may comprise words, names, letters, numerals, designs, figures, colors, or combinations thereof capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from those of others. Non-English or non-Hebrew elements require translation or transliteration details.

Classification

Israel follows the international Nice Classification system for the registration of goods and services. Multi-class applications are fully supported, allowing a single application to cover multiple classes subject to class-specific fee calculations.

Examination

The ILPO conducts a formal administrative examination for completeness, followed by a substantive examination covering absolute grounds for refusal (such as distinctiveness or deceptive elements) and relative grounds (conflicts with prior registered or pending marks on the national database).

Publication and Opposition

Applications that pass substantive examination are published in the official Trademarks Journal. Any interested third party may file a formal notice of opposition against the registration of the trademark within a strict, non-extendable statutory window of 3 months from the publication date.

Timelines

An unopposed standard trademark application typically takes between 12 to 18 months from initial filing to final registration certificate issuance. An accelerated examination procedure is available upon request for an extra official fee if specific urgency criteria are met.

Official Fees

Official state fees are denominated in Israeli New Shekels (ILS / ₪) and are adjusted periodically by the registry:

• Standard base application fee (first class): Modulated by regulatory schedules (traditionally managed via baseline fee itemizations per class).
• Accelerated examination petition fee: ₪750.
• Renewal fees: Structured per class (e.g., higher baseline fee for the first class and reduced incremental rates for subsequent classes).

Protection Duration and Renewal

Trademark protection is valid for 10 years starting from the official application filing date. Registrations can be renewed indefinitely for successive 10-year periods upon submitting a renewal request and paying the requisite fees within the final 3 months prior to expiration.

Use Requirements

A registered trademark is vulnerable to cancellation or revocation actions on grounds of non-use if it has not been put to genuine commercial use in Israel for a continuous period of 3 years. Israel's legal framework recognizes both statutory registration principles and common-law prior use protections.

Post-Registration Procedures

Post-registration changes—including assignments, licensing agreements, changes of proprietor name, or changes of address—must be formally recorded with the ILPO to ensure full legal validity and enforceability against third parties.

Legal Remedies

Legal remedies include cancellation proceedings before the Registrar, civil infringement lawsuits before competent district courts seeking permanent injunctions and damages, and border enforcement measures implemented by customs authorities to intercept counterfeit imports. Well-known marks enjoy enhanced protections.

Country-Specific Risks and Practical Notes

Because Israel maintains distinct statutory provisions regarding local service addresses and rigid opposition timelines (the 3-month publication window cannot be extended), proactive tracking of official journal publications and maintaining close communication with local counsel are essential for safeguarding brand portfolios.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or consultation. To receive personalized and in-depth guidance tailored to your specific situation, we invite you to schedule a consultation.